WITH  SAM  HOUSTON 
IN  TEXAS 


EDWIN  L.SABIN 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON 
IN  TEXAS 


The  American   Trail  Blazers 

"THE  STORY  GRIPS  AND  THE  HISTORY  STICKS" 

These  books  present  in  the  form  of  vivid  and  fascinating 
fiction,  the  early  and  adventurous  phases  of  American 
history.  Each  volume  deals  with  the  life  and  adventures 
of  one  of  the  great  men  who  made  that  history,  or  with 
some  one  great  event  in  which,  perhaps,  several  heroic 
characters  were  involved.  The  stories,  though  based  upon 
accurate  historical  fact,  are  rich  in  color,  full  of  dramatic 
action,  and  appeal  io  the  imagination  of  the  red-blooded 
man  or  boy. 

Each  volume  illustrated  in  color  and  black  and  white. 

INTO  MEXICO  WITH  GENERAL  SCOTT 
LOST  WITH  LIEUTENANT  PIKE 

GENERAL  CROOK  AND  THE  FIGHTING 
APACHES 

OPENING  THE  WEST  WITH  LEWIS  AND 
CLARK 

WITH  CARSON  AND  FREMONT 
DANIEL  BOONE:  BACKWOODSMAN 

BUFFALO  BILL  AND  THE  OVERLAND 
TRAIL 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH 
DAVID  CROCKETT:  SCOUT 
ON  THE  PLAINS  WITH  CUSTER 
GOLD  SEEKERS  OF  '49 
WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

WITH   GEORGE    WASHINGTON    INTO 
THE  WILDERNESS 

IN  THE  RANKS  OF  OLD  HICKORY 


AND  AMIDST  A   GENERAL  CRY,   OVER    SHE    WENT 


WITH 

SAM  HOUSTON 
IN  TEXAS 


A  BOY  VOLUNTEER  IN  THE  TEXAS  STRUGGLES  FOR  INDE- 
PENDENCE, WHEN  IN  THE  YEARS  1835-1836  THE  TEXAS 
COLONISTS  THREW  OFF  THE  UNJUST  RULE  OF  MEXICO, 
AND  BY  HEROIC  DEEDS  ESTABLISHED,  UNDER  THE  GUID- 
ANCE OF  THE  BLUFF  SAM  HOUSTON,  THEIR  OWN  FREE 
REPUBLIC  WHICH  TO-DAY  IS  THE  GREAT  LONE  STAR  STATE 


BY 

EDWIN  L.  SABIN 

AUTHOR  OF  "ON  THE  PLAINS    WITH    CUSTER,"    "BUFFALO    BILL 
AND  THE  OVERLAND  TRAIL."  ETC. 


ILLUSTRATIONS  BT 

CHARLES  H.  STEPHENS 

PORTRAIT  JPQ 


PHILADELPHIA  fcf  LONDON 

J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY 


COPYRIGHT.    19 16,   BY  J.   B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY 


SEVENTH  IMPRESSION 


^a^a  Slet 

~  >  .       0 


PRINTED  IN  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA 


TO   THE 

AMERICAN  SPIRIT  OF  FREEDOM 

AND  ITS  STARS 
IN  THE  AMERICAN  FLAG 


982225 


When  Freedom  from  her  mountain-height 
Unfurled  her  standard  to  the  air, 

She  tore  the  azure  robe  of  night, 
And  set  the  stars  of  glory  there. 

— DRAKB 


FOREWORD 

SAM  HOUSTON  should  justly  be  regarded  as  a  great 
American.  He  laid  his  course  and  steered  by  it  utterly 
regardless  of  the  opposition.  Strong  characters  are 
known  as  much  by  the  enemies  that  they  make  as  by  the 
friends  that  they  retain.  When  they  launch  into  a  course 
that  they  deem  is  right,  they  do  not  depend  upon  fair 
winds.  They  go  ahead,  if  they  have  real  faith.  Threats, 
ridicule  and  dangers  do  not  daunt  them.  Sometimes  they 
may  pause,  to  renew  their  courage ;  but  they  proceed  again 
on  the  same  line. 

Such  a  character  was  Sam  Houston.  To  his  friends 
he  was  loyal ;  to  his  enemies  he  was  unyielding ;  his  ideals 
were  high ;  and  he  loved  his  country. 

Whatever  he  undertook,  he  undertook  with  his  whole 
might,  in  spite  of  censure  and  discouragements.  This  book 
deals  with  him  chiefly  as  the  six-months'  general  who,  out 
of  seeming  defeat,  achieved  the  triumph  of  Texas  arms, 
and  at  one  stroke  established  Texas  independence.  But 
we  ought  to  admire  him  as  a  patriot  statesman,  rather  than 
as  a  military  commander. 

Some  other  commander  could  have  won  the  victory  for 
Texas.  Freedom,  well  or  poorly  led,  cannot  be  conquered 
by  oppression.  Justice  cannot  be  combatted,  forever,  by 
injustice.  But  few  other  men  have  had  Sam  Houston's 
rugged  courage. 

We  see  him  opposed  by  virtually  all  the  people  whom 
he  was  seeking  to  benefit,  while  he  played  the  humble  wait- 
ing game,  and  gave  the  foe  false  advantages  until  in  his 
own  good  time  he  struck  and  roundly  defeated  them.  He 
endured  being  called  a  coward — although  he  well  knew 
that  he,  with  an  arrow  wound  and  two  bullet  wounds  in  his 
body,  was  no  coward.  We  see  him  generous  in  victory, 
and  always  looking  beyond  the  present.  We  also  see  him, 

7 


FOREWORD 

as  president  and  as  governor  of  Texas,  stanchly  insisting 
upon  the  right  as  he  viewed  it,  and  which  time  has  proved 
to  be  the  right.  And  as  United  States  senator  he  con- 
tinued to  fight  for  his  principles  of  honor  and  wisdom. 
That  he  was  unpopular  among  his  people,  and  was  marked 
for  punishment,  made  no  difference  to  Sam  Houston.  The 
welfare  of  Texas,  and  of  the  American  Republic  with 
which  it  united,  was  more  to  him  than  his  own  welfare. 

It  is  a  wonderful  thing  to  know  that  one  is  right,  and 
then  to  stick  to  the  compass. 

Sam  Houston  had  his  weaknesses.  All  men  have 
weaknesses.  The  greatest  men  rise  above  them.  The 
strength  of  Sam  Houston  was  his  faith  in  himself;  his 
weakness  was  his  pride  in  himself.  When  his  pride  was 
injured,  by  accusations  and  by  home  troubles,  he  went  to 
the  other  extreme,  apparently  tried  to  see  how  low  he  could 
sink,  and  as  if  in  revenge  set  out  to  throw  away  his  career. 
This  was  no  revenge.  It  never  is.  It  benefits  mainly  one's 
enemies,  and  harms  mainly  oneself  and  one's  friends. 

Weak  natures  do  not  accept  that  verdict,  or  they  take 
more  pleasure  in  pitying  themselves  than  in  aiding  them- 
selves. Sam  Houston  sank ;  the  world,  disappointed,  said 
that  he  was  a  failure,  after  all — he  could  not  hold  his 
course,  and  -had  abandoned  the  helm.  But  he  could,  and  he 
did.  He  rose,  he  grasped  the  wheel  again,  he  retrimmed 
his  sails,  and  he  forged  on,  with  faith  and  will,  to  fulfil 
the  capabilities  with  which  he  had  been  entrusted. 

Of  the  boys  in  this  book,  James  Monroe  Hill,  Leo 
Roark,  and  Sion  Bostick  appear  in  Texas  history  under 
these  very  names.  Without  doubt  they  had  a  friend  and 
comrade  like  Ernest  Merrill;  many  boys  marched  and 
fought  beside  the  men  in  the  Texas  struggle  for  inde- 
pendence from  Mexico.  Names  amount  to  very  little, 
anyway;  they  simply  are  convenient.  It  is  deeds  that 

count-  EDWIN  L.  SABIN 

CALIFORNIA,  June  1,  1916 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

THE  RISE  OF  TEXAS 13 

SAM  HOUSTON — THE  BUILDER  OF  TEXAS 20 

I.    "  I  AM  SAM  HOUSTON  " 27 

II.    ON  THE  ROAD  TO  TEXAS 42 

III.  SANTA  ANNA  PROVES  FALSE 58 

IV.  "WE  MUST  DEFEND  OUR  RIGHTS " 71 

V.    ERNEST  CARRIES  THE  ALARM 82 

VI.    GONZALES  KEEPS  ITS  SIX-POUNDER 92 

VII.  THE  MUSTERING  OF  THE  TROOPS 104 

VIII.  THE  MARCH  ON  SAN  ANTONIO 116 

IX.  WITH  JIM  BOWIE  AT  THE  HORSESHOE 130 

X.  AN  APPEAL  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES 144 

XI.  SAM  HOUSTON  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 157 

XII.  HOUSE  TO  HOUSE  IN  OLD  BEJAR 172 

XIII.  GENERAL  HOUSTON  DESPAIRS 188 

XIV.  INDEPENDENCE  is  DECLARED 202 

XV.    THE  SIGNAL  GUNS  OF  THE  ALAMO 216 

XVI.  MESSENGERS  OF  DISTRESS 229 

XVII.  RETREAT,  AND  EVER  RETREAT 242 

XVIII.  To  FACE  THE  ENEMY  AT  LAST 253 

XIX.  FINDING  SANTA  ANNA 267 

XX.  "  WILL  You  COME  TO  THE  BOWER  ?  " 280 

XXI.  THE  NAPOLEON  OF  THE  WEST  SURRENDERS 295 

XXII.  PRESIDENT  HOUSTON  RESIGNS  His  SWORD 307 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

FACE 

AND  AMIDST  A  GENERAL  CRY,  OVER  SHE  WENT.  . .  Frontispiece 
GENERAL  SAM  HOUSTON  AT  THE  BATTLE  OF  SAN  JACINTO  ..  .    13 

ERNEST  BARELY  DREW  REIGN  TO  SHOUT  AT  A  FIGURE  IN 
THE  DOORWAY:  "GONZALES  ATTACKED!  THEY  NEED  MEN"      84 

DOWN  SANK  THE  LAST  CANNONEER 143 

"HERE  WE  Go!"  CALLED  JIM.    "HOIST  HIM  IN,  QUICK".  .     186 

TEXAS  IN  1835-1836  AND  MARCH  OF  THE  Two  ARMIES  EAST- 
WARD TO  SAN  JACINTO. 262 

BATTLE  GROUND  OF  SAN  JACINTO 290 

"WHY,"   ROARED  THE  GENERAL,   "You  ARE  THE  GOVERN- 
MENT, YOURSELF,  You  ARE    DICTATOR" 304 


Courtesy  Harper  &  Bros. 


GENERAL    SAM   HOUSTON   AT   THE    BATTLE   OF   SAN   JACINTO 

From  a  paint  ing  by  the  Texan  artist,  S.  Seymour,  exhibited  at  the  Paris  Salon  in  1898 


THE  RISE  OF  TEXAS 


e  Gulf  of  Mexico  explored  by  the  Spanish. 

1521  —  Following  upon  the  conquest  of  Mexico  by  Captain  Her- 
nando  Cortes,  Texas  forms  a  part  of  that  indefinite  New  Spain. 

1528-1536—  Texas  first  entered  by  white  men  when  the  ship- 
wrecked Spaniards,  Cabeza  de  Vaca,  Alonzo  del  Castillo  Mal- 
donado,  and  Andres  Dorantes,  with  the  negro  Estavanico 
(Stephen),  cross  the  interior.  They  assume  it  to  be  a  part  of 
Florida. 

1540-1684  —  Penetrated  by  Coronado,  de  Soto,  and  other  Spanish 
officials. 

1685  —  Robert  Cavalier,  Sieur  de  la  Salle,  in  the  name  of  France 
takes  possession  of  Matagorda  Bay,  deeming  it  one  of  the 
mouths  of  the  Mississippi  River.  Erects  inland  Fort  St.  Louis, 
the  first  white  settlement. 

1689  —  Captain  Alonzo  de  Leon  and  Father  Manzanet,  dispatched 
from  Mexico  to  expel  the  French,  find  Fort  St.  Louis  aban- 
doned. 

1690  —  The  Spanish  from  Mexico  establish  the  Mission  San  Fran- 
cisco among  the  Tejas  Indians,  in  East  Texas,  southwest  of 
present  Nacogdoches.    The  country  begins  to  be  called  the 
Land  of  the  Tejas;  or  "Tejas  "  (Texas). 

1691  —  Don  Domingo  Teran  de  los  Rios  appointed  first  Spanish 
governor  of  the  provinces  of  Coahuila  and  Texas. 

1714  —  Captain  Louis  Juchereau  de  Saint-Denis  is  sent  from  the 
French  post  at  Mobile  into  Texas,  to  report  upon  colonizing  it. 

1716—  The  Spanish  captain,  Domingo  Ramon,  and  party  of  sixty- 
four  men  and  women,  are  sent  to  locate  missions  and  colonies 
in  East  Texas  and  oppose  the  French,  who  have  advanced  to  the 
Red  River. 

1718  —  The  Spanish  presidio  of  San  Antonio  de  Bejar  (Bexar), 
the  site  of  the  storied  town,  is  founded.  Here  arises  also  the 
mission  San  Antonio  de  Valero,  predecessor  to  the  famous 
Alamo. 

13 


THE  RISE  OF  TEXAS 

.  c  i?20-i722~-Other  missions  and  forts  are  established,  along  the 
Sabine  River,  the  Spanish  frontier  in  Texas. 

i72i-r~The  French  claim  to  the  Sabine  River,  from  the  east.  Cap- 
tain. Berrtarcj  de  la  Harpe  is  ordered  to  reoccupy  Fort  St.  Louis 
at  Matagorda  Bay.  The  landing  party  are  driven  off  by  Indians. 

1722-1762— The  French  out-posts  along  the  Red  River  and  the 
Spanish  out-posts  along  the  Sabine  River  are  separated  by  only 
some  twenty  miles ;  but  the  Spanish  hold  Texas. 

1744— The  mission  later  known  as  the  Alamo  is  rebuilt  at  San 
Antonio. 

1762 — France  cedes  to  Spain  all  the  Province  of  Louisiana  as 
presumed  to  be  the  country  from  the  Mississippi  River  to  the 
Rio  Grande  River  and  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Under  Spanish 
and  Mexican  rule  for  virtually  seventy-five  years,  Texas  pro- 
gresses little  except  through  the  efforts  of  American  settlers. 

1782— By  the  Revolutionary  War  the  United  States  succeeds 
England  in  North  America  east  of  the  Mis'issipj^i,  and  becomes 
the  neighbor  of  Texas. 

1797— Philip  Nolan,  an  Irish-American  at  New  Orleans,  enters 
Texas  with  a  party  to  capture  wild  horses  and  to  report  on  the 
country. 

1800— Nolan  and  a  party  again  enter  Texas,  in  defiance  of  Spanish 
protests.  Nolan  is  killed  by  the  Spanish  troops  and  the  others 
are  imprisoned. 

1800— Spain  cedes  the  Louisiana  province  back  to  France. 

1803 — France  sells  Louisiana  province  to  the  United  States.  Spain 
claims  that  France  was  under  contract  not  to  deliver  the  prov- 
ince to  any  other  power,  and  protests  the  transfer. 

1804 — The  United  States  claims  that  the  province  extends  west  to 
the  Rio  Grande  River;  Spain  denies  the  right  of  the  United 
States  to  any  territory  west  of  New  Orleans.  War  is  threat- 
ened. 

1806— -United  States  troops  encamp  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Sabine 
River,  in  Louisiana;  the  Spanish  troops  encamp  on  the  west 
bank,  in  Texas.  By  a  truce  the  United  States  forces  retire  to 
the  Red  River  in  Louisiana,  and  pending  a  settlement  of  the 
Texas  boundaries  dispute,  the  strip  thirty  miles  wide  between 
the  Red  River  and  the  Sabine  River  is  made  a  Neutral  Ground. 

1806-1819— The  Neutral  Ground  is  the  resort  of  desperadoes, 
who  much  annoy  the  Spanish  authorities  of  Texas. 

14 


THE  RISE  OF  TEXAS 

1811-1812 — Lieutenant  Augustus  Magee,  a  young  American  army 
officer,  joins  with  a  Mexican  revolutionist,  Colonel  Gutierrez  de 
Lara,  in  an  attempt  to  seize  Texas  from  Spain.  The  project 
fails. 

1817-1821— The  freebooter,  Captain  Jean  Lafitte,  Frenchman, 
occupies  the  Island  of  Galveston;  reigns  there  under  the  title 
"  Lord  of  Galveston." 

!8i8 — Generals  Lallemand  and  Rigault,  French  officers  under 
Napoleon,  establish  a  French  colony,  entitled  the  Champ  d'Asile 
(Field  of  Refuge),  twelve  miles  up  the  Trinity  River.  They 
are  soon  driven  out  by  the  Spanish  troops. 

1819-1821 — Dr.  James  Long,  an  American  merchant  of  Natchez 
(Mississippi),  with  a  company  of  seventy-five  adventurers,  in- 
vades Texas,  declares  it  an  independent  republic,  but  finally 
is  defeated  and  shot. 

1820— Moses  Austin,  from  Missouri,  petitions  Mexico  to  be  per- 
mitted to  bring  into  Texas  300  colonists  from  the  United 
States,  but  he  dies  before  he  can  complete  his  project. 

1821 — Mexico  separates  from  Spain,  and  Texas  is  now  Mexican 
territory. 

1821 — Stephen  Fuller  Austin,  son  of  Moses  Austin,  and  to  be 
known  as  the  "  Father  of  Texas,"  brings  in  from  New  Orleans 
the  first  of  the  American  colonists,  who  settle  on  the  lower 
Brazos  River. 

1823 — Mexico  issues  a  general  colonization  law,  encouraging  the 
settlement  of  Texas  by  foreigners,  upon  tracts  granted  by  the 
government. 

1823 — The  town  of  San  Felipe  de  Austin  in  the  Austin  colony 
on  the  Brazos  is  founded — the  first  American  town  in  Texas. 

1825— The  State  of  Coahuila  and  Texas  (as  the  two  Mexican 
provinces  were  known)  passes  a  more  liberal  colonization  law, 
and  settlement  by  Americans  proceeds  rapidly. 

1827 — The  United  States,  still  wishing  to  acquire  Texas,  offers 
Mexico  $1,000,000  for  the  province  to  the  Rio  Grande  River, 
or  $500,000  to  the  Colorado  River,  about  half-way.  Mexico 
rejects  the  offers. 

1828— The  United  States  accepts  Mexico's  contention  that  the 
Sabine  River  shall  be  the  boundary  in  the  south  between  the 
two  nations. 

15 


THE  RISE  OF  TEXAS 

1829-1830 — Alarmed  by  the  increase  of  settlers  from  the  United 
States,  Mexico  passes  several  laws  much  restricting  immigration 
and  the  rights  of  colonists. 

1832 — The  American  colonists  support  General  Antonio  Lopez  de 
Santa  Anna,  who  aspires  to  supplant  the  unfair  Anastasio 
Bustamante  in  the  presidency  of  Mexico.  They  rise  against 
the  Mexican  commandants  at  Nacogdoches,  and  at  Anahuac 
and  Velasco  on  the  Gulf,  and  expel  them. 

1832 — October  i  the  "  people  of  Texas  "  meet  in  first  general 
convention  at  San  Felipe,  and  ask  for  a  state  government 
separate  from  Coahuila. 

1833 — Santa  Anna  becomes  president  of  Mexico. 

1833 — Hoping  now  for  aid  from  Santa  Anna,  on  April  i  the 
Texans  meet  in  another  convention,  and  draw  up  a  plan  for 
separate  state  government.  Stephen  Austin  bears  the  petition 
to  Mexico.  He  is  arrested. 

1834 — Coahuila,  with  which  Texas  is  still  linked,  is  torn  by  quar- 
rels between  its  Mexican  factions,  in  which  Texas  is  little  con- 
cerned except  as  an  outsider.  Santa  Anna  grants  an  audience 
to  Stephen  Austin,  the  prisoner,  but  decides  that  Texas  cannot 
be  separated  from  Coahuila,  and  that  4000  Mexican  troops 
should  be  sent  in,  to  preserve  order. 

1835 — The  local  revolution  in  Coahuila  continues,  and  Santa  Anna 
appoints  a  governor  of  his  own  making,  for  Coahuila  and 
Texas.  The  Americans  in  Texas  are  much  incensed  at  such 
dictatorship,  and  Mexican  officials,  driven  out  by  Santa  Anna's 
policies,  join  with  the  colonists. 

1835 — June  30  Captain  William  B.  Travis,  of  the  Anglo-Texans, 
leads  a  party  against  the  port  of  Anahuac,  where  import  duties 
were  being  collected.  The  Mexican  officers  there  are  expelled. 

1835 — August  31  Stephen  Austin  is  landed  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Brazos,  after  a  year  and  a  half  imprisonment  by  the  Mexican 
government.  At  a  banquet  at  Brazoria  he  advises  a  general 
consultation  to  insist  upon  the  rights  of  Texas  to  be  governed 
under  the  liberal  Mexican  constitution  of  1824,  which  granted 
that  the  Mexican  states  should  be  administered  by  elected  offi- 
cials, like  the  states  of  the  United  States.  The  consultation  is 
called  for  October  15. 

16 


THE  RISE  OF  TEXAS 

1835— At  the  close  of  September  the  town  of  Gonzales  refuses  to 
deliver  over  a  six-pounder  cannon,  demanded  by  the  Mexican 
officials  at  San  Antonio  de  Be  jar.  On  October  2  the  Texas 
volunteers  drive  off  the  Mexican  troops  sent  to  take  the  cannon. 
This  Battle  of  Gonzales  is  styled  the  Lexington  of  Texas.  The 
colonists  continue  to  gather;  advance  is  made  against  San 
Antonio;  the  Mexicans  are  defeated,  October  28,  at  the  battle 
of  the  Horseshoe,  near  Concepcion  Mission;  on  December  n 
San  Antonio  is  captured.  In  the  south  Goliad  and  Victoria 
have  been  tuken.  As  the  result  of  the  campaign,  not  a  Mexican 
soldier  remains  in  arms  in  Texas. 

1835 — November  I  the  general  consultation  meets  at  San  Felipe. 
It  declares  for  the  rights  of  state  government  under  the 
Constitution  of  1824.  draws  up  a  plan  for  temporary  state 
administration,  elects  state  officers,  appoints  Sam  Houston  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  Texan  army  to  be  raised,  and  delegates 
commissioners  to  get  aid  from  the  United  States. 

1836 — Santa  Anna  organizes  an  army  to  subjugate  Texas.  Volun- 
teers from  the  United  States  continue  to  arrive,  to  help  the 
Texan  cause,  but  a  quarrel  arises  between  Governor  Smith  and 
the  council,  over  the  conduct  of  the  war. 

1836 — February  22-23  General  Santa  Anna  appears  before  San 
Antonio ;  the  few  Texas  troops  there,  under  Colonel  William  B. 
Travis  and  Colonel  James  Bowie  retire  to  the  Alamo  Mission, 
adjacent,  and  are  closely  besieged. 

1836 — March  2  the  Texas  delegates  in  convention  at  Washington 
on  the  Brazos  declare  for  Independence  from  Mexico.  The 
Republic  of  Texas  is  organized. 

1836 — March  6  the  Alamo  is  taken  by  storm,  by  the  Santa  Anna 
columns.  Of  the  garrison  of  180  or  more  only  three  women, 
a  baby,  a  little  girl  and  a  negro  boy  are  spared. 

1836 — March  n  General  Sam  Houston  arrives  at  the  army  camp 
at  Gonzales,  and  in  the  night  of  the  i3th,  following  the  news 
from  the  Alamo,  a  retreat  is  ordered. 

1836 — March  20  Colonel  James  Fannin,  attempting  to  retire  from 
Goliad  with  400  men,  is  surrounded,  and  surrenders,  on  promise 
of  good  treatment. 

1836— Palm  Sunday,  March  27,  Colonel  Fannin  and  320  of  his  men 
are  massacred,  while  prisoners,  by  order  of  Santa  Anna. 

17 


THE  RISE  OF  TEXAS 

1 836— April  16  the  Mexican  column  under  Santa  Anna,  having 
marched  clear  across  Texas,  burns  Harri:burg,  the  temporary 
capital,  near  Galveston  Bay. 

1836 — April  20  the  Texan  army  under  Houston  front  Santa  Anna 
at  the  San  Jacinto  River  and  Buffalo  Bayou,  northeast  of 
Harrisburg,  and  cut  him  off. 

1836— In  the  afternoon  of  April  21,  by  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto 
the  Texan  army  overwhelm  the  Mexican  force  and  on  the  next 
day  capture  Santa  Anna,  president  of  Mexico. 

1836 — May  14  President  Santa  Anna  signs  the  treaty  by  which  he 
recognizes  the  independence  of  the  Republic  of  Texas,  with 
boundaries  extending  on  the  west  to  the  Rio  Grande  River. 

1836 — In  September  General  Houston  is  enthusiastically  elected 
president  of  the  Republic  of  Texas.  Annexation  to  the  United 
States  is  also  endorsed  by  a  large  majority. 

1837 — In  March  the  United  States  recognizes  the  independence  of 
Texas.  Mexico  declines  to  accept  the  treaty  as  signed  by 
Santa  Anna.  Hostilities  threaten  to  be  actively  renewed. 

1839 — France  acknowledges  the  Republic  of  Texas. 

1840 — Holland  and  Belgium  acknowledge  the  Republic  of  Texas. 

1840-1843 — Texas  and  Mexico  invade  each  other's  territory,  in  a 
fresh  series  of  hostilities.  Several  forces  of  Texans  are  cap- 
tured and  severely  treated. 

1842 — Great  Britain  acknowledges  the  Republic  of  Texas. 

1843 — Texas  and  Mexico  agree  to  a  truce  until  comm'ssioners  can 
discuss  terms  of  peace  between  the  two  republics. 

1843 — Mexico  announces  that  the  annexation  of  Texas  by  the 
United  States  would  be  viewed  as  a  declaration  of  war. 

1844 — In  April  a  treaty  drawn  by  President  Tyler  and  the  Texas 
government,  providing  for  annexation,  is  defeated  in  the  United 
States  senate. 

jg44 — The  negotiations  for  peace  between  Texas  and  Mexico 
having  failed,  Santa  Anna,  again  president  of  Mexico,  an- 
nounces that  war  to  recover  ihe  "  rebellious  province "  is 
resumed. 

X845 — February  28  the  Congress  of  the  United  Spates  adopts  a 
joint  resolution  inviting  Texas  into  the  Union.  President  Tyler 
signs,  March  I. 

18 


THE  RISE  OF  TEXAS 

1845 — In  March  the  Texas  secretary  of  state  has  submitted  to 
Mexico  a  treaty  by  which  Mexico  shall  recognize  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  Texas  Republic,  on  the  agreement  that  there 
shall  be  no  annexation  to  the  United  States.  Mexico  signs  the 
treaty  in  May. 

jg45 — June  4  Mexico  declares  its  intention  to  fight  for  possession 
of  Texas. 

1845— June  18  the  Texas  Congress,  convened  in  special  session  to 
consider  the  offer  of  the  United  States,  unanimously  rejects 
the  treaty  with  Mexico  and  votes  for  annexation.  October  13 
the  Texas  people,  in  general  election,  enthusiastically  endorse 
the  action  of  their  congress. 

1845 — July,  the  American  Army  of  Occupation,  under  General 
Zachary  Taylor,  is  ordered  to  enter  Texas  and  advance  to  the 
Rio  Grande  River. 

1846 — Hostilities  by  force  of  arms  open:  by  the  United  States 
to  establish  the  claims  of  Texas  to  the  Rio  Grande  River 
boundary;  by  Mexico,  to  retain  possession  eastward  to  the 
Nueces  River. 

1848 — By  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  signed  February  2, 
closing  the  war,  Mexico  definitely  loses  Texas  to  the  United 
States. 

1850 — By  protest  from  the  people  of  New  Mexico,  following  the 
close  of  the  war,  the  state  of  Texas,  whose  southwest  and  west 
boundary  was  assumed  to  the  Rio  Grande  River  from  its  mouth 
to  its  source,  is  rebounded  and  confined  to  practically  its  present 
generous  limits. 

Released  from  Mexican  misrule,  free  to  turn  its  arms  against 
the  marauding  Indians,  and  by  the  payment  of  $10,000,000  by  the 
United  States  soon  made  financially  independent,  the  great  State 
of  Texas,  800  miles  long,  750  miles  wide,  has  prospered  abundantly. 
The  spirit  of  the  Lone  Star  Republic  still  lives  in  the  words, 
always  proudly  spoken :  "  I  am  a  Texan." 


SAM  HOUSTON 
THE  BUILDER  OF  TEXAS 

March  2, 1793,  born  at  Timber  Ridge  Church,  near  Lexington, 
Rockbridge  County,  Virginia,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry. 

Father:  Major  Samuel  Houston,  soldier  of  the  Revolution 
and  Assistant  Inspector-General  of  the  frontier  troops. 

Mother:  Elizabeth  Paxton  Houston,  a  large  woman  of  fine 
physique  and  strong  character. 

At  eight  years  of  age  young  Sam  attends  country  school  in 
the  "  Field  School,"  which  occupied  the  old  building  out  of  which 
Washington  University  had  removed  to  Lexington. 

In  1807  his  father  dies,  and  his  brave-spirited  mother,  now 
left  with  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  crosses  the  Allegheny 
Mountains  and  resettles  eight  miles  east  of  the  Tennessee  River 
in  Blount  County,  Tennessee,  here  to  build  a  cabin  and  clear  the 
land. 

Sam  hunts,  traps,  works  on  the  farm,  is  fascinated  by  the 
battles  and  adventures  in  the  Iliad  as  translated  by  Alexander 
Pope,  and  intermittently  attends  the  Maryville  Academy,  where 
his  especial  pleasure  is  to  drill  his  mates  in  military  tactics. 

Apprenticed  to  a  blacksmith,  and  later  hired  out  as  a  clerk 
in  a  general  store,  he  runs  away  and  joins  the  Cherokee  Indians, 
across  the  Tennessee  River. 

Is  adopted  by  the  sub-chief  Oolootekah  or  John  Jolly.  Re- 
fuses to  return  when  found  by  his  brothers,  and  spends  his  time 
living  as  an  Indian.  Is  now  almost  six  feet  tall,  and  of  large 
frame. 

In  1811,  when  aged  eighteen,  returns  to  white  civilization. 
Wearing  a  calico  hunting-shirt,  and  his  hair  in  a  pigtail,  he 
teaches  country  school,  in  Eastern  Tennessee,  to  pay  off  debts 
contracted  while  he  played  Indian. 

In  1813  enlists  at  Maryville,  with  the  approval  of  his  mother, 
as  a  private  soldier  in  the  war  against  Great  Britain.  He  is  pro- 
moted to  sergeant,  in  the  39th  Regiment,  Tennessee  Volunteers, 
serves  as  drill-master  in  Tennessee  and  Alabama,  and  soon  is 
appointed  to  ensign,  by  President  Madison. 

20 


SAM  HOUSTON 

March  27,  1814,  under  General  Andrew  Jackson  and  General 
John  Coffee,  engages  in  the  desperate  battle  with  the  Creek  In- 
dians at  To-ho-pe-ka,  or  Horseshoe  Bend,  at  the  Tallapoosa 
River,  in  Alabama ;  is  badly  wounded  by  an  arrow  while  leading 
his  men  over  the  breastworks,  and  again  by  two  bullets. 

Slowly  recovers  from  his  wounds,  and,  December  31,  1813, 
is  promoted  and  commissioned  third  lieutenant. 

May  20,  1814,  commissioned  second  lieutenant. 

May  17,  1815,  transferred  to  the  First  Infantry  of  the  regular 
army. 

May  i,  1817,  commissioned  first  lieutenant. 

Serves  in  the  adjutant-general's  office  at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

November,  1817,  being  still  incapacitated  by  his  wounds,  is 
appointed  sub-agent  for  the  Cherokee  Indians,  whose  language 
he  speaks.  Conducts  for  them  the  negotiations  by  which  they  sell 
to  the  government  their  lands  in  Eastern  Tennessee. 

In  Washington  is  rebuked  by  John  C.  Calhoun,  secretary  of 
war,  for  appearing  in  Cherokee  Indian  costume;  is  acquitted  of 
misconduct  in  office. 

March  i,  1818,  resigns  from  the  army. 

June,  1818,  studies  law  in  the  office  of  the  Honorable  James 
Trimble,  at  Nashville.  Admitted  to  the  bar  in  six  months. 

Practises  law  for  about  three  years  at  Lebanon  and  Nashville, 
Tennessee.  Gains  a  reputation  for  his  high-sounding  phrases, 
his  self-esteem,  and  his  honesty. 

In  1819  appointed,  through  the  influence  of  his  patron, 
General  Jackson,  adjutant-general  of  Tennessee,  and  is  elected 
prosecuting  attorney  with  office  at  Nashville.  Resigns  this  office 
because  of  insufficient  income  from  it,  and  resumes  general 
practice. 

In  1821  elected  major-general  of  the  Tennessee  militia. 

In  1823  elected  as  representative  in  Congress  from  the  ninth 
district  of  Tennessee.  Serves  here  four  years,  and  is  thrown  in 
contact  with  Henry  Clay,  John  C.  Calhoun,  Daniel  Webster,  John 
Randolph,  Nathaniel  Macon,  and  other  distinguished  American 
statesmen. 

September  23,  1826,  severely  wounds  General  William  White 
in  a  duel  fought  in  Simpson  County,  Kentucky,  just  across  the 
Tennessee  line.  Thereafter  declines  to  engage  in  duels,  although 
many  times  challenged. 

21 


SAM  HOUSTON 

August,  1827,  elected  governor  of  Tennessee ;  appears  at  the 
polls  mounted  on  a  fine  dapple-gray  horse,  and  wearing  a  tall 
black  beaver  hat,  high  patent-leather  stock,  ruffled  white  shirt, 
black  silk  trousers  with  legs  cut  straight  and  full,  embroidered 
silk  stockings,  pumps  with  silver  buckles,  and  a  long  Indian 
hunting-shirt  of  red  figured  calico  belted  about  with  a  beaded  red 
sash. 

•  In  January,  1829,  marries  Miss  Eliza  Allen,  of  Sumner  County, 
Tennessee;  after  three  months  separates  from  her,  for  cause 
unknown  to  the  world;  resigns  his  governorship,  and  joins  the 
Cherokee  Indians  again  on  their  new  reservation  in  Arkansas, 
near  Fort  Gibson  of  the  Indian  Territory. 

Is  welcomed  as  a  son,  by  Chief  Oolootekah,  resumes  his 
Indian  life  and  receives  the  title  of  Col-lon-neh,  or  the  Raven. 
By  his  dissolute  habits  earns  also  the  name  "  Drunken  Sam,"  from 
the  whites,  and  "Big  Drunk,"  from  the  Cherokees. 

During  1830-1831,  while  attempting  to  protect  the  Cherokees 
against  frauds  from  traders  and  contractors,  is  falsely  accused  of 
the  same  improper  practices,  himself. 

April  13,  1832,  while  in  Washington  assaults  and  beats  with  a 
cane  Representative  William  Stanberry,  of  Ohio,  as  retaliation 
for  an  insulting  public  speech.  Is  arraigned  before  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  employs  as  counsel  Francis  Scott  Key, 
author  of  the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner  " ;  is  reprimanded  by  the 
House,  but  is  commended  by  President  Jackson,  who  remits  his 
fine. 

In  the  Indian  nation  he  has  taken  to  wife  the  stately  Tyania 
Rodgers,  a  half-breed  woman  of  unusual  qualities ;  he  establishes 
a  small  farm  and  trading-post  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Grand 
River,  opposite  Fort  Gibson,  and  spends  much  of  his  time  hunting, 
trading  and  drinking. 

In  December,  1832,  proceeds  alone  to  Texas,  under  commis- 
sion from  President  Jackson  to  conclude  a  treaty  of  peace  with 
the  Comanche  Indians,  for  the  protection  of  the  United  States 
borders;  and  under  instructions,  also,  to  investigate  the  feasi- 
bility of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States. 

April,  1833,  is  a  delegate  from  Nacogdoches,  Texas,  to  the 
Texas  convention  held  for  the  purpose  of  demanding  a  separation 
from  the  province  of  Coahuila. 

22 


SAM  HOUSTON 

Through  1833,  1834  and  1835,  while  residing  at  Nacogdoches, 
San  Augustine  and  Washington,  of  East  Texas,  he  takes  prom- 
inent part  in  meetings  which  discuss  freedom  for  Texas  under 
the  Mexican  constitution  of  1824. 

October,  1835,  is  elected  at  Nacogdoches  commander-in-chief 
of  the  army  of  Eastern  Texas. 

November,  1835,  by  the  convention  which  meets  at  San  Felipe 
to  form  a  temporary  state  government  is  elected,  with  only  one 
opposing  vote,  commander-in-chief  of  the  armies  of  Texas. 

At  the  close  of  January,  1836,  by  reason  of  a  quarrel  between 
Governor  Henry  Smith  and  the  council,  finding  himself  without 
the  means  of  enforcing  his  authority  among  the  Texas  troops, 
Houston  virtually  retires  from  his  office  of  major-general. 

February,  1836,  as  one  of  three  commissioners  from  Texas 
to  the  Cherokees  and  other  Indians,  he  so  reassures  the  uneasy 
tribes  that  they  remain  quiet  throughout  the  war  of  Texas  and 
Mexico. 

March,  1836,  is  a  delegate  from  Refugio  of  Southern  Texas 
to  the  Texas  general  convention  which  at  Washington  on  the 
Brazos  declares  for  a  Texas  independent  republic;  by  practically 
a  unanimous  vote  is  re-elected  commander-in-chief. 

March  and  April,  1836,  conducts  his  little  army  in  a  long 
retreat  eastward  across  Texas.  Handicapped  by  the  rains,  and 
by  soldiers  and  settlers  accused  of  cowardice  and  of  leaving 
the  country  needlessly  exposed  to  the  Mexican  forces,  he  labors 
hard  amidst  tremendous  discouragements. 

April  20,  1836,  suddenly  cuts  off  President  Santa  Anna's 
column  of  Mexican  troops,  at  the  head  of  San  Jacinto  Bay,  on 
the  coast  of  East  Texas. 

April  21,  1836,  with  his  743  Texans,  mainly  rough  and  ready 
volunteers,  from  his  camp  on  Buffalo  Bayou,  near  its  juncture 
with  the  San  Jacinto  River,  charges  the  breastworks  of  the  Santa 
Anna  1350  regulars,  and  in  fifteen  minutes  of  fighting  wins  the 
battle  of  San  Jacinto.  Eight  Texans  were  killed,  twenty-three 
wounded;  Houston's  ankle  was  shattered  while  he  was  leading 
his  men.  Of  the  Mexicans  630  were  killed,  730  wounded  and 
captured,  or  both.  Santa  Anna  was  made  prisoner  on  the  next 
day. 

23 


SAM  HOUSTON 

The  independence  of  the  Republic  of  Texas  having  thus  been 
achieved  at  one  stroke,  in  May  Houston  leaves  for  New  Orleans 
to  have  his  wound  treated. 

July,  1836,  Houston  returns  to  Texas,  and  protests  against  the 
proposed  trial  and  execution  of  Santa  Anna,  who  had  been  prom- 
ised his  liberty. 

September,  1836,  Sam  Houston  elected  by  a  vast  majority; 
first  permanent  president  of  the  new  Republic  of  Texas. 

October  22,  1836,  he  is  inaugurated  president,  at  Columbia. 

November,  1836,  he  vetoes  the  resolution  passed  by  the  Texas 
senate  to  retain  Santa  Anna  as  prisoner,  and  dispatches  him  to 
Washington  of  the  United  States,  for  an  audience  with  President 
Jackson,  in  the  interests  of  recognition  by  Mexico  of  Texas 
independence. 

December,  1836,  removes  to  the  town  of  Houston,  on  the 
battle-field  of  San  Jacinto — the  new  capital. 

December,  1838,  Houston  ends  his  first  term  as  president;  he 
has  conducted  the  affairs  of  the  new  republic  with  great  firmness 
and  wisdom ;  and  living  in  a  two-room  log  cabin  has  attired  him- 
self in  bizarre  costume  and  been  a  curious  mixture  of  statesman 
and  backwoodsman. 

In  the  summer  of  1839  he  protests  vehemently  against  viola- 
tions, by  Texas,  of  the  treaty  with  the  Cherokees ;  he  is  threat- 
ened with  assassination,  for  "inciting"  the  Indians  against  the 
whites,  but  he  makes  his  speech,  just  the  same. 

May  9,  1840,  he  marries,  at  Marion,  Alabama,  Miss  Margaret 
Moffette  Lea.  She  is  a  girl  of  twenty-one,  he  a  man  of  forty- 
seven,  and  her  gentle  influence  over  him  is  his  guiding  star  until 
his  death ;  he  soon  ceases  drinking  and  swearing,  and  now  allows 
his  better  nature  to  have  full  sway. 

1840-1841,  Houston  is  representative  from  Nacogdoches,  in 
the  Texas  congress. 

1841,  elected,  for  the  second  time,  president  of  the  Texas 
Republic ;  inaugurated,  December  16,  at  the  new  capital  of  Austin. 

Serves  as  president  until  December,  1844.  Does  not  like 
Austin,  and  removes  the  seat  of  government  to  Houston,  and 
thence  to  Washington  on  the  Brazos;  but  the  indignant  citizens 
of  Austin  retain,  by  force,  the  government  archives.  As  presi- 
dent, Houston  opposes  invasion  of  Mexico  by  Texas,  vetoes  other 

24 


SAM  HOUSTON 

war  measures,  and  again  is  threatened  with  assassination,  but 
treats  the  threats  with  contempt. 

By  correspondence  with  General  Jackson,  President  Tyler, 
and  other  statesmen,  and  by  his  public  addresses,  he  successfully 
engineers  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States,  although 
the  act  was  not  consummated  while  he  was  at  the  head  of  the 
Texas  government. 

In  the  fall  of  1845  he  is  elected  United  States  senator  from 
the  state  of  Texas.  Arrives  at  Washington  to  take  his  seat, 
March,  1846.  While  in  Congress  wears  his  well-known  broad- 
brimmed  white  wool  hat,  and  Mexican  blanket,  whittles  indus- 
triously at  cedar  shingles  while  listening  to  the  debates,  and 
bears  prominent  part  in  national  affairs.  He  opposes  the  exten- 
sion of  slavery  in  new  territories,  and  is  denounced,  by  the  South, 
as  a  traitor.  He  remains  a  firm  advocate  of  the  rights  of  the 
Indians. 

January,  1853,  re-elected  to  congress,  from  Texas. 

Attends  the  Baptist  church  regularly,  in  Washington.  In 
1854  is  received  into  the  Baptise  faith,  at  Independence,  Texas. 

March  3,  1854,  delivers  a  great  speech  against  Senator 
Stephen  A.  Douglas's  Kansas-Nebraska  bill,  which  repealed  the 
Missouri  Compromise  bill,  prohibiting  slavery  north  of  latitude 
36°  30',  and  opened  Kansas  and  Nebraska  territories  to  the 
extension  of  slavery  into  the  North. 

In  1856  is  candidate  for  the  Presidency,  but  at  the  nominating 
convention  of  the  "  American  "  party  receives  only  three  votes, 
his  opposition  to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  bill 
having  aroused  bitter  enmity  toward  him. 

In  1857  defeated  for  the  United  States  senate. 

In  the  fall  of  1857  defeated  for  the  governorship  of  Texas. 

February,  1859,  concludes  his  term  in  the  United  States  senate 
and  returns  to  Texas.  jf 

Fall  of  1859  triumphantly  elected,  for  a  mk^time,  governor 
of  Texas.  Is  inaugurated  on  December  21. 

In  the  troublous  days  of  1860  he  stands  stoutly  for  the  preser- 
vation of  the  Union,  and  is  threatened  by  the  Southern  sympa- 
thizers by  whom  he  is  surrounded.  He  advises  appeal  to  the 
constitution  rather  than  to  arms. 

25 


SAM  HOUSTON 

March  14,  1861,  Texas  having  seceded,  he  refuses  to  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Confederacy;  is  deposed  from  the 
governorship,  and  retires  to  Htmtsville,  his  home. 

Although  opposing  secession,  he  firmly  advocates  the  defense 
of  the  South  against  invasion  by  the  Federal  troops,  and  says 
that  he  is  willing  to  enter  the  Texas  ranks.  In  his  San  Jacinto 
suit  he  reviews,  at  Galveston,  the  Texas  regiment  in  which  his 
son,  Sam  Houston,  Jr.,  has  enlisted,  and  is  cheered. 

Lives  at  Cedar  Point,  Texas;  becomes  very  feeble,  from  his 
old  wounds  and  other  disabilities,  and  walks  with  the  aid  of  a 
crutch  and  a  cane. 

January,  1863,  congratulates  Texas  for  having  driven  the 
Northern  forces  from  her  soil. 

March  18,  1863,  makes  his  last  public  speech,  at  Houston, 
Texas,  and  bids  Texas  keep  up  its  courage  and  its  hopes  of  success 
of  the  Southern  cause. 

July  26,  1863,  Sam  Houston  dies  in  his  bed  at  the  family 
home,  in  Huntsville,  Texas,  aged  70  years.  His  last  words  are : 
"  Texas !  Texas !  "  and  "  Margaret,"  the  name  of  his  wife.  He 
died  beloved  and  respected  by  state  and  country.  To  his  eldest 
son,  Lieutenant  Sam  Houston,  Jr.,  he  bequeathed  the  "sword  of 
San  Jacinto." 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON 
IN  TEXAS 


"  I  AM  SAM  HOUSTON  * 

THE  toiling  little  steamboat  "  Arkansas  "  was  stuck 
harder  than  ever,  as  seemed,  on  a  mud-bar  far  up  the 
shallow  Arkansas  River,  in  the  old  "  Indian  Country," 
which  is  present  Oklahoma. 

"  Back  her !  Back  her !  "  were  bawling  a  half-dozen 
voices,  from  her  passengers. 

"  Go  ahead !  Give  her  steam !  Push  her  over !  "  were 
bawling  a  half-dozen  others. 

"No!    Swing  her!" 

The  paddle-wheel  astern  threshed  vainly;  the  red- 
shirted  pilot  in  the  pilot-house  continually  jangled  the 
engine-bell ;  from  the  upper  deck  the  captain  yelled  him- 
self hoarse ;  on  the  lower  deck  the  mate  stumped  around 
in  cowhide  boots  and  swore  horridly;  the  negro  roust- 
abouts, ranged  along  the  flat  open  bows  and  the  guard- 
rails, to  shove  with  poles,  grunted  and  panted,  and  now 
and  then  one  fell  overboard  when  his  pole  slipped;  the 
passengers  advised  and  criticized ;  the  many  dogs  barked ; 
and  young  Ernest  Merrill,  scampering  upstairs  and  down, 
so  as  to  be  certain  to  see  everything  that  happened,  could 
not  feel  that  the  boat  budged  forward  or  backward  an 
inch. 

"  We're  rooted  fast,  this  time,"  spoke  a  pleasant  voice 
in  his  ear,  as  from  the  forward  rail  of  the  upper  deck  he 
was  sighting  on  the  shore,  to  see  whether  they  really  did 
move.  "  There's  scarcely  water  enough  under  her  here  to 
float  a  peanut  shell." 

It  was  his  friend  Lieutenant  Neal,  in  charge  of  the 
27 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

army  recruits  bound,  like  Ernest,  for  Fort  Gibson  of  the 
Indian  Country.  A  fine  young  man  was  Lieutenant  Neal ; 
not  much  more  than  a  boy  himself.  Ever  since  he  and 
Ernest  had  got  acquainted,  on  the  first  day  up  the 
Arkansas  from  where  it  emptied  into  the  Mississippi,  he 
had  rather  taken  Ernest  under  his  wing.  He  and  his 
recruits  were  from  New  Orleans;  and  Ernest  was  from 
Cincinnati,  in  the  other  direction. 

"  She  is  stuck,  isn't  she !  "  agreed  Ernest.  "  But  they'll 
get  her  off,  won't  they  ?  They  always  have.'' 

For  the  "  Arkansas  "  to  be  aground  was  nothing  new. 
Through  almost  two  weeks  she  had  been  threshing  and 
thumping  and  snorting  on  her  noisy  crooked  way,  stem- 
ming the  tricky  current  and  dodging  (when  she  could)  the 
numerous  bars  and  snags  half -exposed  by  the  falling 
water.  But  every  now  and  again  she  struck. 

Such  was  steamboat  travel  on  the  Arkansas  River  in 
this  early  fall  of  1832. 

That  was  a  long  trip,  anyway,  640  miles  by  steamboat 
up  to  Fort  Gibson  amidst  the  Cherokees  in  the  Indian 
Country.  The  Arkansas  River  had  proved  to  be  a  lonely 
stream,  winding  amidst  cane  brakes  and  bayous  and  tim- 
ber and  wide  flowery  prairies,  peopled  chiefly  by  bear  and 
deer  and  horses  and  wild  fowl.  At  Little  Rock,  the  first 
town  of  any  consequence,  and  the  capital  of  Arkansas 
Territory,  about  half  the  passengers  left,  and  a  dozen 
others  came  aboard.  At  Fort  Smith,  300  miles  further, 
on  the  line  between  Arkansas  Territory  and  the  Indian 
Country,  a  half  of  the  remaining  passengers  (including 
some  Texas  emigrants  and  the  most  of  the  army  recruits) 
filed  ashore. 

When  Fort  Smith  was  left  behind,  the  passengers  on 
board  were,  with  the  exception  of  Lieutenant  Neal  and 
Ernest,  a  rather  tough  set:  reckless  hunters  and  adven- 
turers, each  accompanied  by  several  black-and-tan  or 
yellow  hounds,  and  all  apparently  bound  as  far  as  they 
could  go  into  the  Indian  Country. 

28 


"I  AM  SAM  HOUSTON*' 

But  it  did  not  look  as  though  they  were  to  get  much 
farther,  by  steamboat ! 

"  By  gracious !  "  fidgeted  the  lieutenant,  mopping  his 
brow  under  his  stiff-visored  forage-cap.  "  This  is  bad, 
to  be  held  up  so,  when  we're  almost  there.  I  could  better 
have  gone  overland  from  Smith.  How  far  is  it  to  Gibson 
now,  captain?" 

The  captain  was  tired  and  hot  and  cross. 

"  Less'n  fifty  miles  by  land,  if  you  know  the  trail. 
Those  who  are  in  a  tearing  hurry  can  get  out  and  walk. 
I'd  no  business  trying  this  end  of  the  river.  I  told  all  you 
fellows  I  probably  couldn't  make  it.  Little  Rock  is  as 
high  as  a  boat  should  go,  after  July ;  and  here  we  are, 
300  miles  beyond.  Pretty  soon  we'll  be  navigating  in 
dew."  And  the  captain  stalked  indignantly  away. 

Not  a  breath  of  air  was  stirring.  The  sun  shone  hotly 
down  from  the  clear  sky,  and  was  reflected,  almost  as 
hotly,  from  the  glassy  surface  of  the  smoothly  flowing 
river.  On  the  right  hand,  up  stream,  a  gently  rolling 
prairie  of  high  grass,  dotted  with  clumps  of  trees,  sloped  to 
the  water's  edge ;  on  the  left  hand,  which  was  the  nearer 
of  the  two  shores,  yellow  banks  had  been  cut  and  rose  ten 
feet  and  more  until  crowned  by  brush  and  trees.  Both 
shores  looked  deserted,  although  it  was  said  that  the  Choc- 
taw  and  Cherokee  Indians,  who  had  been  removed  from 
east  of  the  Mississippi,  inhabited  the  country. 

The  "  Arkansas  "  had  ceased  her  efforts,  which  had 
only  swung  her  around  on  the  pivot  of  her  hull.  The 
paddle-wheel  hung  idle.  The  negro  roustabouts  were  lean- 
ing on  their  long  poles,  puffing  and  resting.  The  booted 
mate  sat  in  some  shade  in  the  bows  and  mopped  his  crim- 
son face.  The  pilot  in  the  pilot-house  left  his  bell-rope, 
perched  himself  on  the  window-ledge,  and  lighted  his  pipe. 
The  passengers  subsided.  Some  cast  lines  over  and  began 
to  fish.  Others  sat  at  cards.  Some  went  to  sleep,  with 
their  dogs. 

29 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Taken  altogether,  the  scene  was  not  very  hopeful ;  and 
the  lieutenant,  gazing  around,  gnawed  his  moustache. 

"  Pshaw,  Ernest !  "  he  said.    "  What  next  ?  " 

"  Yaas,"  drawled  a  lean,  sallow  backwoodsman,  who 
with  his  pack  of  hounds  and  flint-lock  rifle  had  come 
aboard  at  Fort  Smith.  "  Sometimes  these  boats  air  hung 
fast  this-away  for  a  week,  when  the  water's  right  low. 
An*  if  the  cap'n  cain't  work  'em  loose  he  jus'  natterly  waits 
for  a  rain  to  riz  the  river  under  him." 

"  But  I  can't  wait  for  a  rain,"  protested  the  lieutenant. 
"  I've  orders  to  put  my  men  into  Gibson." 

"  Let's  walk,"  urged  Ernest,  for  the  land  looked  invit- 
ing and  maybe  they'd  find  deer  on  their  route. 

T'Vifn 

"  Hello ! "  spoke  the  lieutenant,  eying  the  shore. 
"  Here  comes  a  boat.  Well,  it's  good  to  see  a  sign  of  life 
somewhere." 

A  small  boat  had  put  out  from  the  high  left-hand 
banks.  It  was  making  for  the  steamer.  One  man,  pad- 
dling, seemed  to  be  the  only  person  in  it. 

Speedily  the  word  of  the  approaching  visitor  spread 
throughout  the  deck,  and  the  passengers  dropped  every 
other  amusement,  to  watch  and  hazard  guesses.  As  the 
boat  drew  nearer,  it  was  seen  to  be  a  dug-out,  hollowed 
from  a  single  large  log.  The  paddler  was  bearded  and 
evidently  was  a  white  man.  He  wore  a  broad-brimmed 
black  felt  hat  and  a  buckskin  shirt ;  and  a  long-barrelled 
rifle  leaned  against  the  gunwale  beside  him. 

He  scarcely  looked  up  until  his  dug-out  grazed  the 
gunwale  of  the  steamboat.  Then  he  tossed  a  plaited  hemp 
painter  or  tie-rope  aboard,  a  couple  of  roustabouts  held 
the  dug-out  steady,  and  grasping  his  rifle  he  followed  the 
tie-rope  with  himself,  clambering  easily  over  the  bow. 
He  strode  for  the  stairs.  In  addition  to  hat  and  shirt,  he 
wore  buckskin  pantaloons  and  moccasins ;  a  powder-horn 
and  bullet-pouch,  and  bowie-knife  in  hide  scabbard. 

Thus  he  appeared  on  the  upper  deck, 

ao 


"I  AM  SAM  HOUSTON" 

"  Howdy?  "  he  greeted  cordially,  surveying  the  passen- 
gers. "  Going  or  coming  ?  " 

He  was  a  spare,  tall,  sinewy,  bronzed  man,  with  thick 
black  beard,  eagle  eye,  and  hooked  nose. 

"  Haw  haw !  "  they  laughed.  "  Wall,  stranger,  now 
you're  guessin'." 

"  Whar  might  you  be  from  ?  "  demanded  a  spokesman. 

"  Texas — best  country  on  earth ;  where  all  you  fellows 
ought  to  be." 

Texas !  Magic  word !  Before  he  had  left  Cincinnati, 
and  all  the  way  down  the  Ohio  and  the  Mississippi,  and  up 
the  Arkansas,  Ernest  had  been  hearing  of  "  Texas,  Texas, 
Texas  " — a  country  which,  although  a  part  of  Mexico, 
seemed  to  be  a  regular  goal  for  Americans,  who  journeyed 
there,  to  tracts  of  land  which  had  been  assigned  to  Ameri- 
can colonies ;  and  there  they  were  given  acres  and  acres 
for  a  mere  song.  And  here  was  a  real  Texan,  was  he  ? 

"  What  might  yore  name  be,  stranger?  "  pursued  the 
spokesman. 

"  Dick  Carroll,  gentlemen ;  from  Gonzales  in  the 
DeWitt  colony." 

"  Fresh  from  Texas,  be  ye?  Wall,  what's  the  chance 
down  thar  now  ?  I  hear  tell  you've  been  havin'  some  right 
smart  fightin'  with  those  thar  Mexicans." 

"  Yes ;  give  us  the  latest  news,  sir,"  requested  the 
lieutenant. 

The  Texan  eyed  him,  and  thumped  his  rifle  butt  em- 
phatically on  the  hot  deck. 

"I  will,  and  gladly.  News?  Full  of  it.  Fighting? 
Well,  I  reckon  you-all  know  what's  been  the  trouble.  By 
the  Mexican  constitution  of  1824  all  the  states  of  the 
Mexican  Republic  were  guaranteed  rights  and  privileges, 
same  as  the  states  of  the  United  States,  and  we  Texans 
looked  forward  to  having  our  own  legislature  and  gover- 
nor. Then  that  Don  Anastasio  Bustamante  rose  for  the 
presidency  of  Mexico,  overrode  the  constitution,  made  a 
sort  of  one-hoss  monarchy  of  all  Mexico,  and  followed  out 

31 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

the  plan  they'd  tried  before  of  putting  soldiers — the  wust 
kind,  being  mostly  thieves  and  murderers  from  the 
prisons — over  us  in  Texas,  oppressing  Americans  with 
taxes,  selling  our  lands,  saying  that  no  more  American 
settlers  should  come  in,  and  such  like." 

"  I  know,"  nodded  the  lieutenant. 

"Of  course,  that  business  doesn't  work  with  a  people 
like  us  who've  brought  in  their  families,  and  settled  accord- 
ing to  agreement  with  the  government,  and  improved  the 
land  and  built  houses,  and  done  more  in  ten  years  than  the 
Mexicans  did  in  a  hundred.  So  last  spring  while  Don 
Santa  Anna  was  heading  a  revolution  in  Mexico  across  the 
Rio  Grande,  to  restore  the  rights  of  the  constitution  of 
1824,  we  Texans  did  a  little  house-cleaning  on  our  own 
account,  and  drove  every  monarchist  and  Bustamantist 
across  the  border.  When  I  left,  things  had  calmed  down 
and  the  country  was  feeling  hopeful  again." 

"  Then  it's  a  good  place  for  Americans,  is  it?  "  asked 
the  lieutenant. 

"  Yes,  sir.  It's  been  a  good  country,  and  now  it'll  be 
a  better  one.  Where  else  in  this  world  can  a  man  with  a 
family  get  three  squar'  miles  of  the  best  soil,  best  grass, 
best  water,  in  the  best  climate  and  among  the  best  people 
on  earth,  for  thirty  dollars  down,  and  the  rest  pay  as  he 
goes?  We've  all  declared  in  favor  of  Santa  Anna,  the 
Mexican  troops  have  gone  to  help  him  lick  Bustamante; 
as  soon  as  he's  made  president  he'll  give  us  what  we  want 
under  the  constitution  of  '24.  So  come  along,  everybody. 
There's  land  a-plenty  and  room  for  all." 

"  Wall,  stranger,  you  make  a  good  talk,"  spoke  a  pas- 
senger. "  But  what  mought  you  be  doin'  now,  if  it's  any 
of  our  business  ?  You've  said  whar  you're  from,  but  whar 
you  goin',  out  of  such  a  fine  country?  " 

"  I'm  on  my  way  to  Fort  Gibson.  Saw  this  boat  p'int- 
ing  down  stream,  so  I  borrowed  a  Choctaw  dug-out  and 
came  to  learn  the  news  from  above.  What's  doing,  up 
'round  Gibson  ?  " 

32 


"I  AM  SAM  HOUSTON*' 

"  Haw  haw !  "  they  laughed.  "  Cain't  tell  nary  thing 
by  the  looks  of  this  boat,  stranger.  Fust  we're  p'intin' 
one  way  an'  next  we're  p'intin'  'nother,  like  a  bob-tailed 
boss  in  a  millpond.  We're  calkilatin'  on  Gibson,  ourselves. 
An'  what  mought  be  yore  business  at  Gibson  ?  " 

It  was  a  great  crowd  for  asking  questions. 

"  I'm  looking  for  Sam  Houston." 

Sam  Houston!  This  was  another  name,  almost  as 
familiar  as  Texas.  Sam  Houston !  Why,  he  was  the  man 
who  as  a  young  officer  had  fought  so  bravely  in  the  battle 
of  Horseshoe  Bend,  in  March,  1814,  when  General  Andrew 
Jackson  had  saved  Alabama  and  her  sister  states  from  the 
ravages  of  the  fierce  Creek  Indians.  He  was  the  same 
man  who  when  a  boy  had  been  adopted  by  the  Cherokee 
Indians,  in  Georgia,  and  had  lived  with  them ;  and  he  had 
been  lieutenant  in  the  regular  army,  and  United  States 
congressman  from  Tennessee,  and  had  risen  to  be  gover- 
nor of  Tennessee,  and  only  a  couple  of  years  ago  had  quit 
everything  and  run  away,  back  to  the  Cherokees  again,  in 
the  Indian  Country.  And  'twas  said  that  when  now  and 
then  he  reappeared  in  Washington  he  wore  Indian  cos- 
tume !  He  certainly  seemed  to  be  a  queer  character. 

"  And  what  mought  you  be  wishin'  with  Sam 
Houston?" 

The  Texan  was  very  patient  under  these  queries.  He 
rested  on  his  long  rifle,  and  spoke  deliberately,  surveying 
his  audience. 

"  We  want  him  in  Texas,  gentlemen.  They  held  a 
meeting  at  Nacogdoches  of  Eastern  Texas,  the  other  day, 
and  passed  resolution  to  invite  him  to  come  down  and 
help  make  Texas.  He  can  have  anything  he  asks  for." 

"  Who  ?  Sam  Houston  ?  "  laughed  the  steamboat  cap- 
tain— still  in  a  bad  humor.  "  Why,  he's  turned  squaw 
man ;  married  to  a  half-breed  Cherokee  woman,  up  in  the 
Cherokee  nation.  Went  down  to  Washington  on  a  scheme 
to  get  a  government  contract  for  selling  supplies  to  the 
Cherokees,  beat  a  senator  there  half  to  death,  who  dared 

33 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

criticize  him,  and  raised  an  awful  muss.  Senate  had  him 
arrested,  and  if  it  wasn't  for  Andrew  Jackson  I  reckon 
they'd  have  put  him  in  jail.  Texas  must  be  hard  up,  to 
send  for  him." 

The  Texan  whirled  on  him  indignantly. 

"  Don't  talk  against  Sam  Houston  to  me,  sir.  I  knew 
him  in  Tennessee,  and  you  can't  tell  us  Tennesseeans  any- 
thing about  Sam  Houston.  He's  one  of  the  noblest  char- 
acters Providence  ever  created,  sir.  He's  got  not  a  drop 
of  mean  or  cowardly  blood  in  his  big  body.  I  well  know 
that  after  he  parted  from  his  wife  (and  the  secret  of  his 
trouble  has  never  passed  his  lips)  he  resigned  governor- 
ship and  all  and  fled  to  his  friends  the  Injuns  till  he  could 
straighten  out  again.  But  Old  Hickory  (and  Ernest  knew 
that  meant  General  Andrew  Jackson,  the  President)  has 
stood  by  him,  and  anybody  that  Old  Hickory  sticks  to 
through  thick  and  thin  must  be  pretty  much  of  a  man. 
You'll  see  Sam  Houston  recover  yet  from  whatever  it  is 
that  floored  him,  and  he'll  be  honored  in  the  history  of  this 
country  long  after  you  and  I  are  forgotten.  Where  is  he  ? 
Up  at  Gibson?" 

"  Yes,"  sullenly  responded  the  captain.  "  He  passed 
through  Little  Rock,  they  say,  some  time  ago,  after  being 
in  that  muss  at  Washington,  so  I  reckon  he's  running  his 
trading  store  opposite  the  fort,  again,  and  drinking  whisky. 
They  call  him  '  Drunken  Sam/  You've  a  right  to  your 
opinion,  but  mine  is  that  Houston's  fallen  mighty  low,  for 
a  senator  and  a  governor." 

"  Low  as  he  is,  he's  Sam  Houston,  and  he'll  rise  again," 
sternly  declared  the  Texan.  "  He'll  speak  for  himself, 
like  he's  done  before." 

"  How's  the  feeling  on  annexation  to  the  United 
States,  sir?"  queried  the  lieutenant.  "There's  a  report 
at  New  Orleans  that  President  Jackson  has  asked  Houston 
to  investigate  with  that  in  view." 

The  Texan  laughed  easily. 

"We've  20,000  Americans  in  Texas,  sir,  but  we're 
34 


"I  AM  SAM  HOUSTON" 

not  aiming  now  to  cut  loose  from  Mexico.  We've 
pledged  ourselves  to  Santa  Anna  and  the  constitution  of 
1824.  What  we  want  is  our  state  rights  in  the  Mexican 
republic,  and  Sam  Houston  to  lead  us/' 

"How  about  Austin?" 

"  Steve  Austin  ?  "  And  the  Texan's  eyes  kindled. 
"  I'm  from  the  DeWitt  colony,  myself,  but  the  Austin 
colony  was  the  first,  and  it's  the  keystone  of  the  state. 
Moses  Austin  (he  died  in  1821)  we  call  the  grand-daddy 
of  Texas,  and  Steve  his  son's  our  daddy.  If  it  wasn't  for 
the  way  he  can  talk  sense  with  the  government  we'd  all 
have  been  booted  out.  But  he's  worked  hard  for  the 
people  through  ten  years,  and  he  ought  to  tend  to  his  own 
interests  for  a  spell.  We  need  Houston.  He's  six  feet 
four  and  weighs  according,  and  he  can  hold  Texas  steady 
when  she  begins  to  rock.  Well,"  continued  the  Texan,  as 
if  done,  "  I'm  for  Fort  Gibson.  Who's  coming  along?  " 

"  How  ?  "  demanded  the  lieutenant. 

"  There's  a  skiff,  and  there's  the  shore.  This  steam- 
boat's too  plaguey  slow  for  anybody  from  Texas." 

"  Do  you  know  the  way  to  Gibson  from  here  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  It's  nigh  seventy  miles  by  river  but  only 
some  fifty  by  land,  mostly  open  country.  We'll  likely  meet 
up  with  Injuns  who'll  keep  us  straight." 

"  Good !  I'd  rather  be  on  dry  land  ashore  than  on  mud 
in  the  middle  of  the  river,"  said  the  lieutenant,  briskly. 
"If  you're  bound  for  Gibson  afoot,  so  are  we.  Want  to 
come,  Ernest  ?  " 

Ernest  nodded. 

"  That  your  boy  ?  "    queried  the  Texan. 

"  Not  exactly.  But  he's  looking  for  somebody  at 
Gibson,  too,  and  he's  in  a  hurry." 

"  So  ?  "  mused  the  Texan,  surveying  Ernest  kindly. 
"  He  'pears  like  good  Texas  timber.  If  I  can  enlist  him 
and  Sam  Houston  both  for  that  country,  we'll  make  a  big 
state  of  it,  sure.  That's  the  talk.  All  right.  How  many 
in  your  party?  "  he  asked. 

35 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  Six,  and  the  boy/' 

"  Anybody  else  for  Fort  Gibson  ?  "  invited  the  Texan, 
casting  a  glance  about. 

But  the  crowd  only  laughed  good-naturedly. 

"  Fishin's  too  good  hyar,  stranger/'  they  asserted,  in 
lazy  manner. 

The  lieutenant  hustled  away.     Presently  he  returned. 

"  Ready,"  he  announced.  "  Our  baggage  will  go  by 
the  steamer." 

So  they  descended  to  the  lower  deck,  where  the  little 
squad  of  soldier  recruits  were  waiting  at  the  gunwale,  with 
their  muskets  and  haversacks. 

"  I've  got  enough  for  you,  boy,"  informed  the  lieu- 
tenant, to  Ernest.  "  Your  trunk  will  stay  with  the  rest 
of  the  stuff."  And  while  a  couple  of  roustabouts  steadied 
the  dug-out  they  all  clambered  cautiously  in.  A  recruit 
seized  one  paddle,  the  Texan  seized  another  that  was  lying 
in  the  bottom,  and  they  shoved  off  without  ceremony. 
The  crowd  above  gawked  after  them. 

"  Better  let  me  take  the  bows,"  quoth  the  Texan. 
"  Then  I  can  see.  We  have  to  go  a  little  careful.  This 
river's  powerful  full  of  snags." 

And  it  was  fairly  bristling  with  the  jagged  roots  and 
branches  of  tree-trunks,  some  projecting  well  above  the 
swirling  current,  some  barely  breaking  the  surface.  More- 
over, the  dug-out,  deep  and  narrow,  and  smooth  of  hull, 
was  decidedly  cranky.  The  soldier  in  the  stern  seemed 
not  to  be  an  expert  paddler,  and  several  times,  in  veering 
sharply,  the  boat  canted  with  alarming  readiness. 

"  Steady,  steady,"  warned  the  Texan,  when  the  men 
violently  gripped  the  gunwales.  "  I'll  do  the  steering. 
You  lad  in  the  stern,  hold  her." 

They  were  making  for  the  high  banks,  and  the  current 
was  carrying  them  swiftly  down,  for  this  was  the  rapid 
side  of  the  river.  The  laden  dug-out  was  hard  to  control. 
Now  the  steamboat  was  some  distance  above  them,  and 
receding.  On  a  sudden  the  Texan  exclaimed  with — 

36 


"I  AM  SAM  HOUSTON" 

"  Look  out !     Back  her !    Back  her,  I  say !  " 

Even  as  he  spoke  the  dug-out  struck  with  a  shock, 
hung,  swerved,  tilted — a  hidden  snag  underneath  rose  and 
fell  and  clung  venge  fully — water  began  to  flow  in  over 
the  gunwale  on  the  up-stream  side — several  of  the  recruits 
sprang  half  to  their  feet,  leaning.  "  Steady !  Steady !  " 
bade  the  lieutenant — and  amidst  a  general  cry,  over  she 
went.  His  heart  in  his  mouth,  Ernest  pitched  backward, 
and  with  a  splash  the  water  closed  above  him.  He  shut 
his  lips  tight  just  in  time. 

As  soon  as  he  could  right  himself  he  kicked  and 
paddled  vigorously  to  reach  the  surface.  Up  he  blindly 
came,  working  hard ;  his  head  burst  the  surface,  and  hit 
with  a  thump.  Ouch !  Clawing,  he  opened  his  eyes,  but 
for  a  minute  he  could  not  see.  Everything  was  bleared 
and  dark.  He  panted,  and  paddling  and  kicking  he  wildly 
stared.  Something  hard  was  close  above  him  and  sur- 
rounding him,  like  an  umbrella.  He  stretched  up  a  hand, 
and  explored.  Wood  !  His  knees  hit  a  sharp  edge,  below 
water.  His  fingers  encountered  a  projection,  near  his 
head,  and  he  hung  on. 

Now  he  knew.  He  was  under  the  boat !  He  certainly 
was.  The  covering  was  the  bottom,  inside,  Lis  knees  had 
hit  the  gunwale  and  his  fingers  had  found  the  bow  (or 
stern)  where  the  gunwales  came  together  in  a  point.  Yes, 
he  was  underneath  the  up-side-down  dug-out,  and  he  was 
floating  along  with  the  current;  at  any  rate,  there  was 
nothing  but  water  under  him  when  he  extended  his  feet 
as  far  as  he  dared. 

The  space  was  not  pitchy  dark,  for  some  light  filtered 
through  the  water ;  soon  he  could  dimly  make  things  out. 
A  bobbing  object  bumped  against  him;  it  was  a  canvas 
haversack. 

For  the  present  he  had  plenty  of  room  and  plenty  of 
air ;  and  by  kicking  occasionally,  and  hanging  on  with  his 
fingers,  he  easily  kept  afloat.  But,  jiminy,  what  a  fix! 
He  shouted,  and  his  voice  rang  hollowly  in  his  ears,  almost 

37 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

deafening  him.  Maybe  he  could  dive  from  under.  He 
took  a  long  breath  and  sank  and  kicked,  doubling  his 
neck — and  bumped  his  head  again,  on  one  gunwale,  and 
his  shins  on  the  other.  Huh !  That  didn't  work,  so  in  a 
panicky  fear  he  came  up  inside  to  breathe.  Shucks ! 

Now  his  feet  dragged  momentarily  on  a  bar,  but  lost 
it.  Once  more  he  tried  to  dive.  He  must  get  out  from 
under.  He  sank,  turned  in  a  ball,  kicked  and  paddled  and 
groped,  pushed  luckily  with  the  soles  of  his  feet  against 
the  opposite  gunwale — and  away  he  slid,  scraping  his  back. 
He  held  his  breath  as  long  as  he  could ;  then  out  he  popped, 
into  sunshine  and  freedom ! 

Paddling,  and  drinking  the  open  air,  he  blinked,  daz- 
zled, until  he  could  gaze  about.  What  good  fortune  that 
he  had  learned  to  swim!  However,  he  saw  nothing  but 
the  surface  of  the  water,  and  the  two  shores,  and  the  dug- 
out, bottom-side  up  and  looking  like  a  big  narrow  turtle. 
Above  him  the  river  curved  widely,  and  around  the  curve 
was  the  steamboat,  probably ;  but  he  was  alone.  Nobody 
had  floated  down  with  him. 

He  was  nearer  to  the  low  shore  than  to  the  high,  so  he 
must  have  been  carried  diagonally  by  a  cross  current. 
His  feet  touched  bottom  again,  and  he  started  to  wade, 
on  tiptoe — when  he  suddenly  bethought  himself.  He 
struck  out  for  the  boat,  held  to  it  with  one  hand  and 
groped  under  it  with  the  other,  and  hauled  out  the  haver- 
sack. There  might  be  something  in  it  to  wear  or  eat,  if 
the  water  had  not  spoiled  all  the  stuff.  He  felt  somewhat 
like  Robinson  Crusoe ;  and  pushing  the  heavy  haversack 
he  headed  for  the  nearer  shore. 

The  water  shoaled  rapidly,  until  waist-high  and  knee- 
deep  in  the  mud  he  forged  along,  lugging  the  haversack 
(which  weighed  about  a  ton !),  until  he  emerged  at  what  he 
had  supposed  was  a  low  meadow.  It  had  looked  like  level 
grass ;  but  he  discovered  that  it  wasn't  land,  after  all.  It 
was  a  regular  swamp ;  with  coarse  cane  and  grass  higher 
than  his  head,  and  underfoot  a  squashy  bog  in  which  he 

38 


"I  AM  SAM  HOUSTON" 

sank  to  his  knees  again.  And  the  mosquitoes !  And  the 
damp  heat !  Shucks,  and  twice  shucks !  But  there  were 
no  two  ways,  now.  He  toiled  manfully  on,  lugging  the 
precious  haversack,  shoving  through  the  jungle,  plumping 
in  the  soft  boggy  turf,  not  able  to  see  a  thing  except  the 
cane  and  grasses,  and  the  mosquitoes  that  ate  him,  with  the 
sun  boiling  him  and  his  feet  like  lead. 

It  seemed  to  be  a  tremendously  wide  swamp.  He  kept 
a  sharp  lookout  for  snakes,  and  tried  his  best  to  make  a 
bee-line  by  sighting  on  some  tree-tops  that,  from  occasional 
open  spots,  he  could  glimpse  far  before.  His  breath  came 
in  gasps,  his  heart  thumped,  the  mosquitoes  and  the  heat 
were  awful,  and  the  perspiration  simply  poured  down  his 
face.  He  was  leaving  the  river  behind,  but  when  he  got 
out  of  the  swamp,  then  where  would  he  be  ? 

Hurrah !  He  guessed  that  he  was  reaching  the  edge, 
at  last.  The  bogginess  was  not  so  deep,  and  the  jungle  not 
so  high.  His  head  began  to  stick  above  the  rushes;  his 
shoulders  followed,  and  he  could  see  about  him. 

The  trees  were  plain:  a  large  timber-patch,  across  a 
short  stretch  of  level  prairie.  Out  of  the  swamp  and 
upon  the  hard  prairie  Ernest  staggered ;  and  down  he  sank, 
in  the  hot  sun,  gasping.  A  sorry  sight  he  was,  too:  a 
bare-headed  boy  (he  had  lost  his  hat,  of  course),  in  blue 
flannel  shirt  and  gray  jeans  trousers  and  coarse  cow-hide 
shoes,  soaked  to  the  skin  and  muddy  to  the  waist.  He  was 
glad  to  drop  the  haversack  and  wipe  his  face  with  his  wet 
bandanna  handkerchief.  Then  he  took  off  his  shoes  and 
socks,  wrung  his  socks  as  free  as  he  could  of  mud  and 
water,  emptied  his  shoes,  put  socks  and  shoes  on  again ; 
and  after  a  breathing  space  decided  to  try  for  the  shade 
of  the  trees. 

With  a  grunt  he  picked  up  the  haversack  (which  he 
would  investigate  later) ,  and  plodded  on.  It  was  another 
long  pull  to  the  trees,  for  he  was  pretty  weak  in  the  knees. 
But  he  made  it,  without  a  stop;  and  as  he  crossed  the 
border,  from  sun  to  shade,  how  good  the  coolness  felt! 

39 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

The  timber  patch  was  quiet,  except  for  the  twitter  of 
birds.  Once,  as  he  wandered  curiously  forward,  seeking 
the  best  seat  so  as  to  rest  and  examine  the  haversack,  he 
heard  a  quick  rustle  and  a  series  of  thumps,  as  if  he  had 
disturbed  a  deer ;  but  he  did  not  see  the  deer.  Apparently 
he  had  the  timber  all  to  himself.  This  was  rather  fun, 
exploring — especially  if  the  haversack  contained  some- 
thing to  eat.  But  the  undergrowth  was  thick,  and  there 
were  still  some  mosquitoes ;  and  the  proper  place  in  which 
to  sit  down  would  be  an  open  space  warmed  by  the  sun. 
The  shade  was  almost  too  cool.  After  he  had  rested 
and  dried  off,  and  perhaps  had  a  bite  to  eat,  he  would 
start  out  and  look  for  the  steamboat,  up  the  river.  Or 
maybe  he  could  find  the  lieutenant,  who  might  be  looking 
for  him. 

An  open  space  appeared  ahead.  Ernest  made  for  it, 
broke  through  into  it — and  abruptly  stopped  short,  staring 
and  hugging  his  haversack.  The  first  thing  that  his  quick 
eyes  saw  was  a  big  Indian,  directly  opposite. 

The  Indian  was  sitting  down,  cross-legged.  He  was 
a  frightfully  big  Indian — quite  the  biggest  Indian  imagin- 
able. He  wore  dark  whiskers,  covering  his  chin,  but  he 
was  an  Indian,  sure ;  for  he  had  on  a  gaily  figured,  dirty 
calico  hunting-shirt,  open  at  the  throat  so  that  his  hairy 
chest  showed,  and  buck-skin  trousers,  and  embroidered 
moccasins,  and  around  his  large  head  was  wound  a  strip 
of  red  cloth,  in  several  folds,  turban  fashion.  His  hair 
appeared  to  hang  in  a  pig-tail,  or  braided  queue,  down  his 
back.  A  quiver  of  feathered  arrows  lay  beside  him,  and 
a  short  strung  bow  was  across  his  knees. 

He  sat  without  a  movement,  scarcely  winking  his  eyes, 
which,  bold  and  steady  and  very  blue,  surveyed  Ernest, 
while  Ernest  surveyed  him.  Ernest  had  the  feeling  that 
this  Indian  had  seen  him  first ;  and  there,  half  in  sun  and 
half  in  shade  under  the  tree  at  the  clearing's  edge,  had 
waited  for  him  to  approach. 

"  Who  are  you,  boy?  "  The  Indian  had  spoken,  in  a 
40 


"I  AM  SAM  HOUSTON" 

deep,  resonant  voice — and  he  had  spoken  good  English. 

"  My  name  is  Ernest  Merrill,"  stammered  Ernest, 
standing  stock  still. 

"  Where  are  you  from  ?  " 

"  From  Cincinnati,  Ohio." 

"  How  came  you  here  ?  " 

"  I  was  travelling  on  a  steamboat  up  the  Arkansas 
River,  and  the  steamboat  stuck  on  a  mud-bar,  so  I  got  off 
to  walk  the  rest  of  the  way." 

"  Where  are  you  going  ?  " 

"  Fort  Gibson." 

"  What  do  you  want  at  Fort  Gibson  ?  " 

"  My  uncle.     He  sent  for  me." 

"  Who  is  your  uncle  ?  " 

"  He's  Sergeant  John  Andrews,  in  the  United  States 
army." 

"Who  is  with  you?" 

"  N-nobody,"  faltered  Ernest,  determined  to  be  honest. 
"  There  were  Lieutenant  Neal  and  some  soldiers  and  a 
Texan,  but  the  dug-out  capsized  with  us  and  I  got  under 
it  and  lost  'em.  They  must  be  around  somewhere, 
though,"  he  added,  as  a  warning. 

"  Have  you  no  parents  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I've  my  mother,  but  she's  sick  and  my  uncle 
was  to  take  me  till  she's  well.  He's  going  to  be  discharged 
pretty  soon." 

Ernest  could  no  longer  keep  himself  from  trembling. 
His  knees  were  so  wobbly,  and  his  stomach  so  empty,  and 
the  haversack  so  heavy ;  and  he  was  alone,  and  the  Indian 
was  very  big.  The  Indian  seemed  to  notice  the  symptoms. 
He  smiled — a  beautiful  but  sad  smile — and  beckoned  with 
a  great  fore-finger. 

"  Come  here,  my  boy,"  he  bade,  in  his  fine  resonant 
voice.  "  Fear  nothing.  You  are  as  safe  with  me  as  in 
your  mother's  lap."  And  he  added,  with  a  dignified 
gesture  of  his  open  hand :  "  I  am  Sam  Houston." 


II 

ON  THE  ROAD  TO  TEXAS 

ERNEST  went  forward,  across  the  little  park.  Now  he 
was  not  a  particle  afraid.  Something  in  the  man's  big 
finger  and  steady  voice  put  him  at  his  ease.  Besides,  this 
was  no  Indian;  it  was  Sam  Houston  in  Indian  clcthes. 
Truly,  an  astonishing  meeting,  but  a  happy  one.  So 
Ernest  went  forward. 

"  What  have  you  there,  my  boy  ?  "  asked  Sam  Houston, 
referring  to  the  haversack. 

"  It's  a  knapsack,"  replied  Ernest.  "  I  found  it  under 
the  boat." 

"  Whom  does  it  belong  to  ?  " 

"  One  of  the  soldiers.  He  lost  it  when  the  boat  cap- 
sized ;  so  I  took  it  with  me." 

"Where  are  the  soldiers?" 

"  I  don't  know.  I  guess  they  swam  ashore  while  I 
was  floating  down." 

"  Let  me  see." 

Ernest  passed  the  haversack  to  him,  and  squatted  down 
v/hile  Sam  Houston  unbuckled  the  flap.  After  all,  there 
wasn't  much  of  any  use  in  the  haversack :  only  two  pairs 
of  socks,  and  a  suit  of  underclothing,  and  a  razor  and 
strop,  and  a  "  housewife  "  or  little  case  containing  needles 
and  thread,  and  several  newspapers,  and  a  tin  plate  and 
steel  knife  and  fork  and  pewter  spoon,  ?nd  some  soggy 
crackers  or  hardtack,  and  a  cotton  night-cap.  None  of 
the  clothing  would  fit  Ernest.  The  haversack  had  weighed 
so  much  because  it  was  water-soaked. 

Sam  Houston  stowed  everything  carefully  back  again, 
and  buckled  the  flap. 

"  We  will  restore  this  to  the  Government  when  we  get 
to  Fort  Gibson,"  he  said.  "  It  is  not  yours  or  mine.  Can 
you  travel?  Come."  And  he  stood.  "  I  have  provision. 

42 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  TEXAS 

You  can  eat  as  you  go.  Your  uncle  is  no  longer  at  the 
cantonment,  but  never  mind.  Sam  Houston  will  watch 
over  you." 

His  uncle  "  no  longer  at  the  cantonment !  "  Why  ? 
And  where,  then?  Ernest's  heart  sank. 

"  He  has  been  transferred/'  quoth  Sam  Houston, 
briefly,  as  he  strode,  carrying  the  haversack,  Ernest  trot- 
ting in  the  wake  of  his  great  strides. 

Ernest  asked  no  further.  He  felt  that  he  was  in  good 
hands,  and  that  Sam  Houston  knew  what  was  to  be  done. 

In  a  few  minutes  they  arrived  at  the  edge  of  the  timber, 
where  a  small,  bob-tailed  pony  was  tethered  to  a  tree.  The 
pony  nickered  at  their  approach.  From  the  tree  Sam 
Houston  took  down  the  carcass  of  a  deer,  hanging  there. 
He  laid  it  over  the  horse's  haunches  and  tied  it  fast.  He 
slung  his  quiver  at  his  thigh,  and  the  haversack  from  the 
saddle,  against  the  horse's  side.  The  pony  did  indeed 
seem  very  small ;  but  atter  handing  Ernest  a  strip  of  dried 
meat,  extracted  from  the  bosom  of  his  shirt,  and  saying, 
"  Chew  on  this,  my  boy,"  Sam  Houston  untied  the  animal, 
lifted  Ernest  astride  the  deer  carcass  behind  the  rude  sad- 
dle, and  confidently  mounted,  himself. 

Thus  they  rode  away,  at  an  easy  amble,  Ernest  perched 
high  and  hanging  tight,  his  legs  and  the  legs  of  the  deer 
dangling. 

Up  hill  and  down,  through  a  rolling  prairie  land  of  rich 
grass  and  occasional  brush  and  trees,  they  rode ;  they  saw 
deer  and  wild  turkeys,  and  crossed  several  trails ;  and  at 
sunset  they  halted,  by  a  creek,  to  spend  the  night.  They 
chewed  more  of  the  dried  meat,  Sam  Houston  cut  some 
dried  grass,  spread  it,  and  from  the  saddle  untied  a  blanket, 
and  laid  it  out. 

"  There  is  our  bed,  yours  and  mine,"  he  said.  "  Some 
day  you  will  remember  that  you  shared  the  couch  of  Sam 
Houston." 

Ernest  snuggled  beside  him,  and  slept  soundly  until 
daybreak.  After  a  scanty  breakfast  they  rode  on. 

43 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

It  probably  was  about  ten  o'clock  when,  as  they  topped 
a  little  rise,  Ernest's  friend  pointed  ahead. 

"  Yonder  is  our  destination/'  he  said,  solemnly — and 
using  the  high-sounding  language  of  which  he  evidently 
was  fond.  "  There  lies  the  cantonment  of  Fort  Gibson ; 
and  across  the  stream  from  it  waits  the  humble  habitation 
of  Sam  Houston." 

Slightly  to  the  south  of  west  showed  a  river,  marked 
by  its  line  of  trees.  That  was  the  Arkansas.  From  the 
north  another  river  joined  it ;  and  on  the  hither  shore  of 
this  river,  a  few  miles  above  its  mouth,  was  a  group  of 
buildings,  occupying  a  lovely  placid  site  in  the  sunny  open. 
Across  the  wide  grassy  prairie  that  stretched  to  the  river 
ambled  the  pony,  with  its  double  burden — Ernest  holding 
fast  and  peering. 

Soon  he  could  make  out  the  Stars  and  Stripes  floating 
on  the  breeze,  from  its  tall  flag-staff.  Several  Indians — 
real  Indians — were  met,  on  their  ponies.  They  were 
dressed  much  like  Sam  Houston ;  some  carried  bows,  some 
muskets.  With  them  Sam  Houston  exchanged  a  dignified 
word  of  greeting.  And  presently  the  fort  itself  was 
reached — but  it  did  not  appear  to  be  much  of  a  fort;  just 
a  small  collection  of  low,  shabby  wooden  buildings  around 
a  parade-ground. 

Ernest  was  disappointed.  However,  he  did  not  waste 
many  moments  by  criticizing  his  port.  As  the  pony  en- 
tered the  parade-ground,  apparently  being  directed  straight 
for  the  quarters  of  the  commanding  officer  himself,  almost 
the  first  white  persons  that  Ernest  saw  were  young  Lieu- 
tenant Neal,  and  the  tall  Texan,  crossing  the  parade- 
ground  together.  And  they  had  seen  him. 

With  a  little  shout  of  joy,  off  from  the  deer  carcass 
tumbled  Ernest,  and  ran  forward.  The  lieutenant  and 
Mr.  Carroll  met  him  half  way,  and  there  was  a  great 
shaking  of  hands. 

"  Are  you  all  here  ?  "  demanded  Ernest,  breathless. 
"  I  am.  Sam  Houston  brought  me." 

44 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  TEXAS 

"  Great  Caesar !  Is  that  Sam  Houston  ?  "  exclaimed  the 
Texan.  "  With  that  Cherokee  dress  and  those  whiskers 
on  his  chin  I  didn't  know  him.  Bless  my  heart,  but  I'm 
glad  to  see  you !  Where  did  you  go  to  ?  You  disappeared 
completely.  We " 

"  I  was  under  the  boat,"  explained  Ernest. 

"  Is  that  so !  We  saw  the  boat  but  we  didn't  sight  you. 
We  swam  and  waded  to  the  high  bank " 

"  I  landed  on  the  other  side ;  the  low  side,"  explained 
Ernest.  "  Quite  a  way  down,  though.  I  couldn't  get  out 
from  under  the  boat,  at  first." 

"  Lucky  you  did  get  out,"  said  the  lieutenant,  soberly. 
"  We  never  thought  of  that.  Well,  we  searched  along  the 
bank,  the  best  we  could  ;  then  we  told  some  Indians  to  keep 
a  watch-out  for  you,  and  borrowed  some  horses  from  them 
and  rode  on  to  the  fort.  Got  here  about  midnight." 

"  My  uncle  isn't  here  any  more,  Mr.  Houston  says," 
faltered  Ernest,  his  spirits  dropping. 

"  No,  he  isn't,  Ernest,"  admitted  the  lieutenant.  "  He's 
been  gone  about  two  weeks.  But  never  mind.  You'll  be 
cared  for.  Now  let's  speak  with  General  Houston  a 
minute." 

General  Houston,  as  the  lieutenant  had  entitled  him, 
was  sitting  with  dignified  patience  on  his  bob-tailed  pony, 
as  if  waiting  for  recognition.  Followed  by  Ernest,  the 
lieutenant  and  the  Texan  stepped  over  to  him. 

"  I  am  Lieutenant  Neal,  sir,"  addressed  the  lieutenant. 
"  If  I  mistake  not,  I  have  the  honor  of  addressing  General 
Houston." 

"  The  same,  sir,"  bowed  the  general. 

"Allow  me  to  present  Mr.  Carroll,  recently  from 
Texas.  You  have  done  a  great  service,  sir,  in  restoring 
to  his  friends  this  boy,  with  whom  I  travelled  from  the 
Mississippi  River,  and  who  I  feared  had  been  lost  by  an 
untimely  accident." 

"  It  is  one  of  the  few  pleasures  of  my  life,  sir,"  re- 
sponded the  general  "  I  have  informed  him  that  Sergeant 

45 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

John  Andrews,  his  uncle,  is  no  longer  stationed  at  Fort 
Gibson.  Does  the  further  disposal  of  the  boy  rest  with 
you  or  with  me  ?  " 

"  I  will  take  charge  of  him,  and  thank  you,"  an- 
swered the  lieutenant. 

"  Then  I  will  consign  to  you  this  haversack,  also,  which 
is  the  property  of  the  Government,"  continued  the  general. 
"  Good-by,  sirs.  Good-by,  my  boy.  Shall  you  ever  need 
a  friend,  you  will  find  him  in  Sam  Houston."  He  gravely 
eyed  the  Texan.  "  From  Texas,  eh  ?  I  will  speak  with 
you  anon,  sir."  He  touched  his  pony  with  his  heel,  and 
turning  aside  ambled  away. 

"  A  ruined  man,"  mused  the  lieutenant,  gazing  after. 
"  Think  of  him,  as  once  a  congressman,  and  governor  of  a 
state !  I  fear  his  violent  habits  have  weighted  him  down 
beyond  recall." 

"  A  great  character  struggling  to  free  itself  again,"  cor- 
rected the  Texan.  "  There  is  nothing  half-way  about 
Sam  Houston.  Just  now  he's  like  a  wounded  b'ar,  that 
bites  its  own  flesh  and  crawls  about  seeking  healing  yarbs. 
But  wait  till  he's  recovered.  Why,"  added  the  Texan,  "  in 
his  Injun  clothes,  on  a  bob-tail  hoss,  he  rides  as  if  he  were 
in  broadcloth  on  a  thoroughbred !  " 

And  Ernest  decided  that  the  Texan  was  right. 

The  next  thing  on  the  program,  for  Ernest,  was  of 
course  a  change  of  clothes.  In  the  lieutenant's  room  he 
was  fitted  out,  after  a  fashion ;  and  although  the  clothes 
were  rather  large,  they  were  clean.  The  steamboat  with 
his  trunk  had  not  arrived  yet.  As  like  as  not  she  was  still 
stuck  on  the  bar. 

So  Ernest,  while  awaiting  word  of  his  uncle  the  ser- 
geant, who  had  been  sent  out  with  a  scouting  detail  across 
country  clear  to  Cantonment  Leavenworth  in  what  is 
to-day  Kansas,  stayed  at  Fort  Gibson.  It  was  likely, 
according  to  the  lieutenant,  that  the  sergeant  would  get  his 
discharge  at  Leavenworth.  Well,  what  then?  Would  he 
come  back?  Scarcely.  Would  he  send  for  Ernest  to 

46 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  TEXAS 

meet  him?  Nobody  seemed  to  know.  Therefore  Ernest 
wrote  a  letter — a  long,  long  letter — to  his  mother,  and 
settled  down  to  do  the  best  that  he  could.  He  was  such 
a  handy  lad  that  he  felt  he  could  earn  his  way ;  and  as  he 
was  willing  to  do  anything,  he  kept  very  busy  performing 
little  jobs  for  Lieutenant  Neal  and  the  other  officers. 

Fort  Gibson,  or  Cantonment  Gibson  (a  cantonment  be- 
ing deemed  not  so  permanent  as  a  fort),  located  here  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  Grand  River  a  few  miles  above  the 
Arkansas,  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  United  States 
possessions,  was  only  a  small  post  established  among  the 
Cherokee,  Creek  and  Choctaw  Indians  of  the  Indian  Coun- 
try. Of  these,  the  Cherokees  were  the  most  numerous 
around  the  post.  They  had  their  principal  village,  named 
Tah-lon-tees-kee,  down  the  Arkansas  about  thirty  miles ; 
they  lived  in  quite  a  civilized  fashion,  with  their  rulers 
and  councils,  and  comfortable  houses,  and  well-cultivated 
farms.  White  people  had  married  into  the  tribe,  and 
they  even  kept  slaves. 

Sam  Houston  was  a  Cherokee;  he  had  been  adopted 
by  the  old  head  chief  John  Jolly — whose  Indian  name 
was  Oo-loo-te-kah ;  and  took  part  in  the  councils  that 
made  the  laws,  and  was  given  the  name  Col-lon-neh,  which 
meant  The  Raven.  He  was  one  of  the  few  white  men 
who  could  speak  the  Cherokee  language. 

But  lately  Sam  Houston  had  left  the  Cherokee  town 
of  Tah-lon-tees-kee;  he  had  married  a  half-Cherokee 
woman  named  Tyania  Rodgers,  and  with  her  had  settled 
across  the  Grand  River  opposite  Fort  Gibson,  where  he 
had  taken  up  land,  built  a  log  house,  and  was  farming 
and  trading. 

Ernest  saw  him  frequently,  at  the  post  and  also  across 
the  river.  There  was  something  mysterious  about  Sam 
Houston.  Nobody  appeared  to  understand  what  had  got 
into  him,  except  that  he  had  been  disappointed  in  his  mar- 
riage back  in  Tennessee,  and  had  separated  from  his  wife 
there,  resigned  his  governorship  of  Tennessee,  and  had 

47 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

fled  as  far  as  he  could  from  all  his  white  acquaintances. 
He  never  breathed  a  syllable  about  the  cause  of  his  trouble ; 
people  respected  him  for  that.  He  never  permitted  a 
word  to  be  uttered  blaming  his  first  wife ;  and  people  re- 
spected him  for  that.  He  "took  his  medicine,"  as  the 
saying  was.  But  no  one  could  respect  his  habits,  especially 
his  drunkenness. 

He  wore  Cherokee  Indian  costume  constantly — usually 
a  slovenly  costume,  as  when  Ernest  had  first  seen  him,  but 
again  a  "  full  dress  "  of  beautiful  white  doeskin  hunt- 
ing-shirt, yellow  buckskin  leggins,  beaded  moccasins,  a 
brilliant  red  blanket  as  a  cloak,  and  a  kind  of  crown  of 
wild-turkey  feathers.  Thus  he  stalked  about. 

He  hunted  much,  alone,  with  bow-and-arrow  and  with 
gun.  He  had  spells  when  he  would  answer  nobody  except 
in  Cherokee.  And  he  had  other  spells  when  he  lay  on  the 
ground  drunk,  even  at  the  fort  itself.  Then  his  wife 
Tyania,  who  was  as  large  and  as  stately  as  himself,  would 
seek  him  and  take  him  home  to  the  log  house  across  the 
Grand  River.  He  was  known  as  "  Drunken  Sam  " ;  and 
even  his  Indian  brothers  called  him  "  Big  Drunk  "  instead 
of  Col-lon-neh,  The  Raven. 

It  was  a  sad  step  downward  for  any  man  to  take ;  and 

for  a  man  who  had  been  as  great  as  Sam  Houston ! 

Yet,  sober  or  drunk,  he  still  had  about  him  a  dignity  that 
bespoke  his  better  days  in  the  past,  and  perhaps  promised 
better  days  to  come.  He  almost  always  greeted  Ernest 
very  kindly,  and  Ernest  could  not  help  but  like  him. 

The  tall  Texan,  Dick  Carroll,  soon  left  for  the  down- 
river and  the  Mississippi.  Whether  he  had  persuaded 
General  Houston  to  help  Texas,  nobody  knew ;  but  at  any 
rate,  he  promised  to  keep  an  eye  out  for  Ernest's  uncle,  in 
case  that  the  sergeant  had  returned  to  the  Arkansas  as 
far  as  Fort  Smith,  say.  As  for  the  trunk,  Ernest  never 
saw  it  again,  or  the  steamboat  either ! 

The  fall,  crisp  and  bright,  with  occasional  flurries  of 
snow,  merged  into  winter,  and  December  opened  brave 

48 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  TEXAS 

and  sunny,  with  bracing  days  and  sharp  starry  nights. 
Then,  ere  a  week  had  passed,  through  the  post  circulated 
the  news  that  Sam  Houston  had  gone.  On  his  bob-tailed 
pony  he  had  ridden  away,  as  if  for  Texas  at  last.  Only 
his  wife  Tyania  remained  in  the  log  cabin  across  the  Grand. 

Of  course  there  were  many  reports.  One  rumor  de- 
clared that  he  had  gone  to  Texas  by  request  of  President 
Jackson,  to  make  treaties  with  the  Comanches  and  the 
other  Texas  Indians,  for  the  United  States.  This  rumor 
afterwards  proved  true.  Another  rumor  said  that  he  had 
been  asked  by  the  President  to  investigate  the  people  and 
affairs  in  Texas,  and  to  see  what  the  likelihood  was  that 
it  would  separate  from  Mexico.  This  rumor  also  after- 
wards seemed  to  be  proved  trr.e.  But  John  Henry,  an- 
other trader  at  Fort  Gibson,  stated : 

"  Sam  Houston  has  gone  to  Texas  to  stay.  He's  been 
intending  that  a  long  time.  And  not  six  months  ago  he 
said  to  me,  on  the  bank  of  the  Grand  River :  '  Henry,  let's 
go  to  Texas.  I'm  tired  of  this  country  and  sick  of  this 
life.  It's  no  place  or  occupation  for  me.  Anyway,  I'm 
going,  and  in  that  new  land  I  will  make  a  man  of  myself 
again/  He  also  said  he'd  make  a  fortune  for  both  of  us, 
if  I'd  go  with  him." 

"  If  he'll  make  the  man  of  himself,  that's  enough ;  bet- 
ter than  fortune,"  quoth  Lieutenant  Neal,  standing  near. 
"And  I  believe  he  will.  I'd  feared  his  ambition  was  dead ; 
but  it  isn't,  and  anybody  with  ambition  to  be  something 
higher  is  by  no  means  hopeless.  I'm  glad  he's  gone.  The 
Cherokees  and  other  Indians  will  miss  him,  though;  he 
was  their  best  friend." 

Ernest  missed  him,  too;  missed  him  already — and 
rather  wanted  to  go  to  Texas,  himself.  However,  on  the 
very  next  day  who  should  come  riding  into  the  post  but 
Mr.  Carroll  the  Texan,  back  from  his  trip  down-river,  and 
eager  indeed  over  the  tidings  with  which  he  was  greeted. 

"  Sam  Houston's  gone,  they  tell  me !  Gone  to  Texas ! 
Pshaw !  He  must  have  crossed  my  trail,  then,  on  his  way 

4ft 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

down  to  Nacogdoches.  But  it's  good  news.  Hello,  boy," 
he  cried,  sighting  Ernest.  "  I  had  word  of  your  uncle. 
He  was  at  Fort  Smith,  but  he  left  for  Texas  before  I  could 
catch  him.  I  reckon  he  didn't  know  you  were  up  here. 
If  you'd  like  to  follow  him  now's  your  chance,  for  I'm 
off  to  Texas  myself  in  the  morning." 

"  All  right,"  said  Ernest.    "  I'll  go  if  I  can  get  a  horse." 

"A  hoss!"  laughed  Mr.  Carroll.  "No  boy  who's 
plucky  enough  to  take  the  long  trail  into  Texas  shall  lack 
a  hoss.  Not  much !  " 

"  Besides,  he's  earned  one,"  declared  the  lieutenant, 
hearing.  "  He's  worked  hard  at  whatever  he  was  told  to 
do,  and  my  yellow  pony  that  he's  been  riding  is  his  to  keep ; 
yes,  and  saddle  and  bridle,  too." 

So  Ernest,  outfitted,  by  the  friends  whom  he  had  made, 
not  only  with  the  yellow  pony,  and  saddle  and  bridle,  but 
also  with  clothes,  provisions,  and  a  buck-handled  hunting- 
knife,  found  himself  the  next  morning  prepared  to  ride 
southward  with  Dick  Carroll  the  Texan. 

He  was  shaking  hands  and  exchanging  goodr-byes, 
when  into  the  midst  strode  a  young  Cherokee,  the  nephew 
of  Tyania,  Sam  Houston's  wife. 

He  bore  a  beautiful  light  little  rifle,  beaded  hide  bullet- 
pouch,  and  powder-flask  of  black  buffalo  horn  scraped 
smooth  and  thin.  Straight  he  marched  to  Ernest's  stirrup. 

"  Tyania  send  these,"  he  said,  extending  them.  "  You 
go  to  Texas.  When  you  see  Sam  Houston  you  tell  Sam 
Houston  Tyania  love  him,  she  wait  here  for  him,  but  she 
never  go  there." 

And  he  had  hastened  away  before  Ernest  had  had  time 
even  to  thank  him. 

"  By  jiminy ! "  exclaimed  the  Texan,  as  Ernest,  much 
flustrated  and  delighted,  slung  the  bullet-pouch  and 
powder-horn  upon  his  shoulders  and  balanced  the  little 
rifle.  "  Now  you're  sure  fixed  out,  and  that  Mexican 
government  had  better  mind  how  it  behaves  or  Texas  will 
be  free." 

50 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  TEXAS 

They  left  Fort  Gibson  behind  them,  and  crossed  the 
Arkansas  River  by  means  of  an  Indian  flatboat  ferry — to 
which  the  horses  did  not  object  at  all.  Almost  due  south 
they  rode ;  straight  for  Texas,  by  a  narrow  trail  that  led 
through  the  timber  and  the  prairies  clear  to  Nacogdoches, 
which  was  the  first  town  of  any  importance  on  the  Texas 
northeastern  frontier.  Mr.  Carroll  was  not  certain  that  he 
wished  to  go  to  Nacogdoches ;  but  he  hoped  to  overtake 
General  Houston,  or  at  least  to  learn  his  whereabouts. 

All  day  they  rode  ;  at  night  they  camped.  They  passed 
through  a  portion  of  the  Creek  Indian  nation  (the  Creeks 
looked  much  like  the  Cherokees)  ;  and  after  that  they  saw 
scarcely  anybody  except  Choctaws  (another  half -civilized 
Indian  people),  until  before  they  reached  the  Red  River 
they  sighted,  at  noon,  ahead,  three  men  sitting  their  horses 
in  the  trail,  and  grouped  as  if  chatting. 

"Sam  Houston !"  ejaculated  Mr.  Carroll.  "  Now 
we'll  know  what's  what."  And  he  added,  as  they  drew 
near :  "  Elias  Rector,  too.  He's  United  States  marshal  for 
Arkansas  Territory.  T'other  one's  name  is  Harris,  I 
think.  Met  him  down  at  Little  Rock.  Major  Arnold 
Harris." 

Sure  enough,  General  Houston  it  was,  his  head  thrust 
through  a  Mexican  blanket,  draped  over  his  shoulders,  and 
a  large-brimmed  whitey-gray  wool  hat  on  his  crown.  He 
looked  larger  than  ever,  but  it  was  no  wonder  that  Ernest 
had  not  recognized  him,  for  he  had  been  clean  shaven. 
However,  Mr.  Carroll  had  sharp  eyes. 

The  spot  proved  to  be  the  focus  of  several  trails ;  and 
as  Mr.  Carroll  and  Ernest  arrived,  the  general  was  heavily 
dismounting  from  his  bob-tailed  pony. 

"  This  bob-tailed  pony  is  a  disgrace,"  declared  the 
general.  "  He  is  continually  fighting  the  flies,  and  has  no 
means  of  protecting  himself ;  and  his  kicks  and  contortions 
render  his  rider  ridiculous.  I  shall  be  the  laughter  of  all 
Mexico.  I  require  a  steed  with  his  natural  weapon,  a 
flowing  tail,  that  he  may  defend  himself  against  his  ene- 

51 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

mies  as  his  master  has  done.     Harris,  good-bye ;  but  first 
you  must  trade  with  me.     What  are  your  terms  ?  " 

"Very  well,  Sam,  I  will,"  agreed  Major  Harris. 
"  But  we'll  each  keep  our  own  saddle  and  bridle." 

"  So  be  it,"  answered  the  general.  "  Now,  Jack,"  he 
said  to  his  bob-tailed  pony,  as  he  stripped  him,  "  you  and 
I  must  part.  You  have  been  a  good  and  faithful  servant 
to  me,  but,  Jack,  there  comes  a  time  in  the  life  of  every 
man  when  he  and  his  friends  must  separate.  You  are  a 
faithful  pony.  You  are  a  hardy  pony.  You  are  a  sure- 
footed pony.  But  cruel  man  has  made  you  defenseless 
against  the  common  enemy  of  your  kind,  the  pesky  fly. 
Where  I  am  going  they  are  very  thick.  The  Almighty  in 
His  wisdom  gave  you  a  defense,  but  man  has  taken  it 
from  you,  and  without  a  tail  you  are  helpless.  I  must 
therefore  with  pain  and  anguish  part  with  you." 

So  saying,  he  changed  the  saddle  and  bridle  to  the 
larger  horse,  which  had  a  fine  long  tail. 

"  Houston,"  spoke  the  third  man,  the  United  States 
marshal,  "  I'd  like  to  give  you  some  little  keepsake  before 
we  separate,  but  I  have  nothing  except  my  razor.  Will 
you  take  it  ?  I  never  saw  a  better  one."  And  he  extracted 
it  from  his  saddle-bag  and  extended  it. 

"  Major  Rector,"  proclaimed  the  general,  much  as  if 
he  were  making  a  public  speech,  "  I  accept  it.  This  is 
apparently  a  gift  of  little  value,  but  it  is  an  inestimable 
testimony  of  the  friendship  which  has  lasted  many  years, 
and  proved  steadfast  under  the  blasts  of  calumny  and 
injustice.  Good-bye.  God  bless  you.  When  next  you 
see  this  razor  it  shall  be  shaving  the  President  of  a 
Republic." 

"  How  are  you  fixed  for  money,  Sam  ? "  inquired 
Major  Harris.  "You  may  need  some  where  you're  going." 

"  Money  ?  "  answered  the  general,  solemnly.  "  Un- 
fortunately, I  am  always  in  need  of  money." 

"  Then  let  me  divide  with  you.  I've  more  with  me 
than  I  can  use,  and  you  can  repay  me  at  your  leisure." 

52 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  TEXAS 

"Thank  you,"  acknowledged  the  general,  pocketing 
what  was  proffered.  "  Remember  my  words,  Harris,  I 
shall  yet  be  the  president  of  a  great  republic.  I  shall  bring 
that  nation  to  the  United  States,  and  if  they  don't  watch 
me  closely  I  shall  be  the  President  of  the  White  House 
some  day.  Good-by."  And  reining  his  horse  around,  he 
rode  down  one  of  the  trails. 

He  apparently  had  not  noticed  Mr.  Carroll  and  Ernest. 
But  the  two  other  men,  taking  another  trail,  saluted  civilly 
as  they  passed. 

"  Well/'  remarked  the  Texan,  to  Ernest,  and  gazing 
after  the  rapidly  receding  form  of  the  general,  "  I  reckon 
Sam  Houston's  bound  for  Texas,  all  right.  Didn't  I  tell 
that  steamboat  captain  and  the  rest  of  you  that  Houston 
would  rise  again?  He's  made  up  his  mind  and  nothing 
can  stop  him." 

Thus  speaking,  the  Texan  touched  his  horse,  and  with 
Ernest  rode  onward  into  the  south. 

That  evening  they  half  waded,  half  swam  their  horses, 
across  a  ford  of  a  rapid  river.  On  the  farther  bank  Mr. 
Carroll  raised  his  hat  as  if  in  a  salute,  and  turned  to  Ernest 
with  a  smile. 

"  Now  you're  in  Texas,  lad,"  he  said.  "  That  was  the 
Red  River." 

They  made  camp,  and  lay  down  together  in  their  wet 
clothes,  feet  to  the  fire,  while  a  flock  of  turkeys  (minus  one 
which  had  supplied  a  supper)  querulously  piped  in  the 
trees  beside  the  water  before  they,  also,  settled  for  the 
night. 

Texas !  Was  ever  a  land  elsewhere  so  vast  and  yet  so 
beautiful  as  this,  thought  Ernest,  as  throughout  the  next 
day  he  and  the  Texan  steadily  rode  onward,  threading 
deeply-grassed  prairies,  circuiting  patches  of  rich  timber, 
crossing  streams  r.nd  swamps,  and  seeing  scarce  a  sign 
of  human  life,  but  horses  and  deer  and  turkeys  in  abun- 
dance. Where  were  the  Texas  settlers? 

Mr.  Carroll  laughed. 

63 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  Down  yonder  we'll  find  'em,"  he  said.  "  But  the 
country's  not  crowded.  Every  man  has  plenty  room. 
This  is  principally  Comanche  range — and  those  fellows  we 
don't  want  to  see !  " 

After  such  long  travel  that  Ernest  completely  lost 
track  of  the  days,  they  came  to  the  first  real  token  of 
civilization :  a  straight,  well-travelled  road,  with  marks  not 
only  of  horses'  hoofs  but  of  wheels. 

"The  Royal  Road/'  explained  Mr.  Carroll,  pausing. 
"  Laid  out  by  the  Spanish  before  the  Texas  settlers  en- 
tered. Runs  clean  across  the  middle  of  Texas  between 
Nacogdoches  of  the  east  and  San  Antonio  of  the  west. 
But  we  don't  follow  it.  We  strike  down  by  the  San  Felipe 
trace,  for  Gonzales.  If  we  followed  the  San  Antonio 
road  we'd  pass  too  far  north." 

Presently  he  turned  off,  to  the  left,  upon  a  much  lesser 
road — another  of  those  Texas  trails  or  "  traces."  Evi- 
dently this  was  the  San  Felipe  trace.  Now  they  met  a  few 
people,  mainly  hunters  on  horseback ;  and  that  night  they 
stopped  with  a  settler  family  at  whose  ranch-house,  a  rude 
log  cabin,  glassless  and  floorless,  they  were  made  more 
than  welcome  to  a  supper  of  corn-bread,  venison  and 
honey,  and  to  a  husk  bunk. 

The  next  afternoon  Mr.  Carroll  pointed  ahead. 

"  San  Felipe  on  the  Brazos/'  he  announced.  "  First 
American  town  founded  in  Texas,  headquarters  of  Steve 
Austin's  colony,  and  sort  of  capital  for  the  whole  outfit 
of  us.  We'll  stop  there  to-night,  and  at  Burnam's  on  the 
Colorado  to-morrow  night,  and  day  after  we'll  push  on 
through  to  Gonzales." 

San  Felipe  was  a  straggling  little  town,  with  scattered 
houses  of  logs  and  of  thick,  rough-sawed  siding  like  clap- 
boards, and  dusty  but  wide  streets,  centering  about  two 
public  squares  or  plazas.  There  was  a  tavern,  run  by  a 
settler  named  Whitesides,  and  a  double  log  house  where 
lived  Stephen  Austin  himself,  the  "  Father  of  Texas."  He 
was  away  from  town,  just  now,  on  business.  Mr.  Carroll 

54 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  TEXAS 

thought  that  at  least  1500  people  formed  the  population  of 
the  San  Felipe  neighborhood.  The  farms  were  said  to 
be  the  most  prosperous  in  Texas. 

This  night's  lodging  was  at  the  house  of  another  friend 
— Mr.  R.  M.  Williamson,  one  of  whose  legs  was  bent  at 
the  knee,  so  that  he  moved  by  help  of  a  crutch.  He  had 
been  alcalde,  or  mayor,  of  San  Felipe,  and  was  called 
"  Three-legged  Willie."  He  seemed  to  be  a  fine  man,  of 
quick,  decisive  action. 

What  he  and  Mr.  Carroll  talked  upon,  late  into  the 
night,  Ernest  did  not  know — he  did  not  stay  awake  to  hear. 

"Thirty  miles  to-day,"  quoth  the  Texan,  as  in  the 
morning  he  and  Ernest  ambled  out  of  San  Felipe.  "  Fifty 
to-morrow,  and  then  we're  there." 

The  trace  continued  into  the  west.  And  again  it  was 
a  rather  lonesome  trail,  save  for  the  very  few  ranches,  and 
an  occasional  traveller  by  horse — now  and  then  an  Ameri- 
can in  buckskins  or  coarse  cloth,  and  now  and  then  a 
swarthy  Mexican  enveloped  in  a  blanket.  If  there  were 
20,000  Americans  settled  in  Texas,  they  must  be  settled  at 
great  intervals ;  and  this  Ernest  soon  learned  was  true. 

"  Yon's  the  Colorado,"  informed  Mr.  Carroll,  toward 
evening,  as  they  jogged  slowly,  saving  their  horses  for  the 
longer  ride  to-morrow.  "  The  Burnams  live  across  on  the 
west  bank.  Hope  the  captain's  at  home.  Want  you  to 
meet  him.  He's  four-square.  One  of  the  original  Austin 
settlers,  he  is.  Came  out  hereabouts  from  East  Texas 
along  in  '22.  Took  sick  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  he 
was  the  porest  man  in  Texas,  I  reckon.  Born  pore,  in 
fact — and  when  he  married,  in  Tennessee,  his  wife  had  to 
sell  her  stockings  to  get  plates  to  eat  off  of.  But  he's 
getting  ahead,  now,  and  he's  a  powerful  Injun  fighter. 
That's  the  kind  of  stuff  we  have  in  Texas,  to  make  a  state ; 
and  it's  the  right  stuff,  too." 

Burnam's  Crossing  was  a  ford  at  the  Colorado  River, 
but  a  ferry  was  operated  here,  also,  in  high  water.  From 
the  east  bank,  where  another  settler  lived,  the  Burnam 

55 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

ranch  could  be  seen,  opposite:  a  log  house  built  like  a 
block-house,  and  several  out-structures.  Ernest  and  his 
guide  plashed  through  the  water. 

Yes,  Captain  Burnam  was  at  home,  for  when  they  drew 
up  before  the  hitching  rail  in  front  of  the  ranch  yard  a 
bearded  man  hastened  from  the  corral  to  greet  them. 

"Howdy?  Light  and  come  in,"  he  called,  cheerily. 
"  Oh,  boys !  Put  up  these  gentlemen's  hosses." 

A  young  man  issued  from  the  corral  and  with  a  word 
to  Mr.  Carroll  led  the  two  horses  away.  Ernest  was  in- 
troduced to  Captain  Burnam ;  and  in  the  house  to  the  rest 
of  the  family.  At  supper  there  was  another  boy,  of  dark 
eyes  and  hair,  whose  name  was  James  Hill — or  James 
Monroe,  they  called  him,  by  his  middle  name,  when  they 
didn't  call  him  plain  Jim. 

He  was  older  than  Ernest,  being  fourteen,  but  he  was  a 
boy,  just  the  same;  and  although  there  were  boys  in  the 
Burnam  family,  Ernest  was  glad  to  meet  as  many  boys  as 
possible.  It  would  have  been  pretty  stupid,  in  Texas, 
without  boys. 

"  I  live  out  just  a  small  piece,"  explained  James  Monroe. 
"  You  going  to  Gonzales,  I  reckon  ?  " 

"  I  guess  so,"  responded  Ernest." 

"  Mr.  Carroll  some  of  your  kin  ?  " 

"  No.     I'm  looking  for  my  uncle." 

"Who's  he?" 

"  Sergeant  John  Andrews,  of  the  United  States  Army. 
But  he's  been  discharged,  and  he's  somewhere  in  Texas." 

"  Wasn't  that  an  army  sergeant  named  Andrews  who 
was  killed  by  the  Karankawas  down  on  the  Trinity,  couple 
of  months  ago,  dad?  "  blurted  one  of  the  Burnam  boys. 

"  Sh !  "  warned  his  mother ;  but  it  was  too  late. 

"  That  so?  "  queried  Mr.  Carroll  of  Captain  Burnam. 
"  Hadn't  heard.  What  about  it? "  And  Ernest  waited, 
breathless. 

"  So's  the  tell,"  acknowledged  Captain  Burnam,  slowly. 
"  There  was  a  party  of  traders  massacred  by  the  Karanka- 

56 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  TEXAS 

was,  and  a  man  by  name  of  John  Andrews,  from  the 
United  States  Army,  was  among  'em.  He  was  a  new- 
comer. They  all  were  newcomers  or  they  wouldn't  have 
been  so  careless." 

Silence  fell. 

11  That's  sure  too  bad,"  volunteered  Jim  Hill,  to  Ernest. 
"  Maybe  'twasn't  your  uncle.  Did  you  know  him  well  ?  " 

"  No,  I  never  saw  him ;  but  he  was  to  take  care  of  me," 
faltered  Ernest. 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Carroll,  quickly,  "  don't  you  mind, 
boy.  You're  no  worse  off.  I'd  sort  of  adopted  you,  any- 
way. So  you  come  along  to  Gonzales,  and  I'll  see  you 
don't  suffer,  you  bet." 

"Of  course.  Never  mind.  You  stay  with  Dick 
Carroll  and  he'll  make  a  Texan  of  you,"  spoke  Mrs. 
Burnam.  "  Just  forget  your  uncle  and  those  Injuns." 

Ernest  gulped. 

"  I  guess  I  will,"  he  said.  They  all  were  trying  to  be 
so  kind  to  him  that  he  could  not  say  anything  else.  And 
he  did  like  Dick  Carroll. 

James  Monroe  Hill  left,  after  supper,  to  ride  over  to 
his  home.  He  told  Ernest  he'd  see  him  again ;  and  he  did. 

The  start  for  the  fifty-mile  ride  to  Gonzales  was  made 
at  daybreak,  with  the  hospitable  Burnam  family  waving 
good-by  from  the  block-house.  The  winding  trace  led 
across  numerous  streams,  and  past  several  isolated 
ranches;  and  near  sunset  Dick  Carroll  again  pointed 
before. 

"  Gonzales— little  old  Gonzales,"  he  informed.  "  She's 
the  last  of  the  white  settlements,  but  she's  home,  and  it's 
good  to  see  her  again." 

They  entered  another  straggling  town,  smaller  than 
San  Felipe.  Dick  exchanged  greetings  with  the  people 
whom  he  passed;  he  turned  his  horse  and  Ernest's  into 
the  public  corral,  for  the  night,  and  led  the  way,  through 
the  dusk,  for  supper  and  bed  in  his  own  cabin,  which  was 
to  be  Ernest's  also. 

57 


Ill 

SANTA  ANNA  PROVES  FALSE 

ERNEST  awakened  in  the  morning  full  of  curiosity. 
While  Dick  Carroll  was  attending  to  some  business  mat- 
ters, after  breakfast,  he  himself  had  time  to  explore  his 
new  home.  Gonzales  was  not  much  of  a  town,  as  yet,  be- 
ing smaller  than  San  Felipe.  However,  it  was  lavishly 
laid  out,  six  miles  square,  in  blocks  divided  off  by  broad 
straight  streets,  which  ran  out  into  the  open  country, 
the  majority  indicated  only  by  surveyor's  stakes  and  some 
indicated  not  at  all.  There  were  a  Market  Square,  and  a 
Military  Plaza,  and  other  public  parks  (as  required  by 
Mexican  law)  ;  a  hotel  called  Turner's  Inn;  a  sort  of  a 
fort,  in  case  of  Indian  attacks;  a  store  or  two;  and  about 
twenty  houses  of  logs  and  clapboards,  and  well  scattered. 
On  many  of  the  squares  there  was  only  a  single  house; 
and  on  others  none  at  all.  The  main  residence  section 
was  the  southwest  corner  of  the  tract,  called  the  "  inner  " 
town.  To  north  and  east  extended  the  "outer"  town, 
sparsely  occupied  by  ranches. 

This  Gonzales  was  located  on  a  timbered  prairie,  from 
which  trees  had  been  cut  for  house  building.  The  Guada- 
lupe  River  flowed  in  a  curve  on  the  west  edge  of  town, 
and  a  few  families  had  settled  across  on  the  west  side  of 
the  river.  In  the  north  of  the  "  outer  "  town  was  a  heavy 
timber  patch,  which  Smith's  Creek  separated  from  a  green 
prairie  to  the  south ;  and  through  the  town  wended  Kerr's 
Creek,  along  which  the  first  cabins  had  been  erected,  in 
1825,  when  Colonel  Green  DeWitt  (who  owned  all  the 
vast  colony  tract)  and  Major  James  Kerr,  of  the  Missouri 
senate,  brought  in  the  first  settlers. 

In  honor  of  Don  Rafael  Gonzales,  governor  of  Coa- 
huila  and  Texas,  was  the  settlement  named;  in  1826  it 
had  been  destroyed  by  the  Indians  and  was  rebuilt  in  1827. 

58 


SANTA  ANNA  PROVES  FALSE 

Even  yet  it  was  in  constant  danger  from  the  Indians, 
particularly  the  Tawakanas ;  and  it  had  been  loaned  a  six- 
pounder  brass  cannon  by  the  presidio  of  San  Antonio,  for 
protection.  The  cannon  was  not  mounted,  but  it  was  kept 
in  readiness. 

Gonzales  was  the  westernmost  of  the  American  settle- 
ments in  Texas.  Further  west  there  was  only  old  San 
Antonio  de  Bexar  or  Be  jar — usually  styled  by  the  last 
word,  pronounced  "  Behar."  It  was  seventy-five  miles  by 
road,  and  was  strictly  a  Mexican  town,  although  Ameri- 
cans lived  there.  Years  before  it  had  been  established  as 
a  Roman  Catholic  mission,  where  were  stationed  priests 
and  soldiers  to  educate  and  control  the  Indians.  The  mis- 
sion part  was  abandoned,  but  as  a  presidio  or  garrison  of 
Mexican  soldiery,  and  as  the  principal  Mexican  military 
post  in  Texas,  old  Bejar  was  considered  of  much  impor- 
tance. The  road  to  it  was  lonely  and  unsettled. 

East  of  Gonzales,  about  eighty  miles,  was  San  Felipe — 
Stephen  Austin's  town ;  south  sixty  miles  was  Goliad  or 
Goliath,  formerly  the  Mexican  military  post  of  La  Bahia, 
on  the  lower  San  Antonio  River ;  and  down  the  Guadalupe, 
below  Gonzales,  about  the  same  distance,  was  Victoria. 
But  the  country  between,  surrounding  Gonzales,  was  all 
wild  and  unoccupied,  and  Gonzales  was  a  real  frontier 
settlement. 

Dick  Carroll  "  bached  "  it  in  his  little  log  cabin ;  here 
he  and  Ernest  slept  and  cooked  their  meals.  Ernest  on 
his  first  day  was  set  at  work  herding  horses  on  the  prairie 
north  of  the  houses ;  and  thinking  hard  while  sitting  his 
yellow  pony,  and  listening  to  Dick  Carroll  and  the  other 
men,  in  his  hours  off  duty,  he  soon  got  a  pretty  clear  idea 
of  the  situation  in  Texas. 

"It's  this  way,"  explained  Mr.  Carroll.  "Texas 
wants  to  be  a  free  and  self-governing  Mexican  state,  with 
all  the  privileges  of  the  constitution  of  1824.  But  instead 
of  that,  the  blamed  Mexican  government  has  joined  us 
to  the  other  province  of  Coahuila,  that  lies  next  to  us,  just 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

across  the  Rio  Grande,  so  we're  only  a  part  of  the  state  of 
Coahuila  and  Texas.  Now,  that  doesn't  go.  Coahuila 
province  and  Texas  province  are  different  peoples  alto- 
gether. Across  the  Rio  Grande  everything  is  Mexican  and 
can  be  run  'cording  to  Mexican  ideas.  But  Texas  is 
settled  up  by  Americans,  used  to  different  laws  and  differ- 
ent habits,  and  perfectly  capable  of  governing  themselves 
if  only  given  the  chance.  Now  when  we're  tacked  onto 
Coahuila,  and  the  state  officers  are  mainly  located  in 
Coahuila,  and  they're  most  of  'em  Mexicans,  to  boot,  a 
small  show  does  Texas  stand  of  putting  through  the  kind 
of  laws  that  Americans  can  live  and  do  business  under. 
Santa  Anna,  though,  will  help  us  as  soon  as  he's  president, 
now  that  the  revolution  ag'in  Bustamante  has  won  out. 
And  this  spring  Texas  is  going  to  hold  a  regular  state 
convention  by  itself,  draw  up  a  state  constitution,  and  ask 
the  government  to  approve  it.  I  reckon  Sam  Houston'll 
be  one  of  the  delegates  from  Nacogdoches ;  and  if  so,  the 
constitution'!!  be  dog-proof  and  hog-tight.  He  ought  to 
be  down  this  way  right  quick.  He  was  over  at  San  Felipe, 
to  meet  Austin,  last  week,  I  hear  tell,  and  he's  going  on 
through  to  Be  jar,  they  say." 

Mr.  Carroll  had  spoken  correctly,  for  within  a  day  or 
two  the  general  (he  had  been  general  of  the  Tennessee 
militia)  did  appear  in  Gonzales.  Ernest  found  him  there, 
at  supper  time,  talking  in  the  midst  of  a  group  of  citizens. 
He  wore  the  same  big,  broad-brimmed  whitish  hat,  and 
Mexican  blanket,  and  buckskin  pantaloons,  and  looked  as 
large  as  any  two  other  men. 

Ernest  stood  on  the  outskirts  of  the  little  circle  of 
curious  spectators,  and  gazed  like  the  rest  of  them.  He 
knew  Sam  Houston ;  certainly  he  did ;  but  although  Dick 
Carroll  was  there,  taking  part  in  the  conversation,  he  felt 
as  if  it  would  be  rather  nervy  of  him  to  elbow  in.  Still, 
he  hoped  that  the  general  would  notice  him,  in  some  way. 

However,  Mr.  Carroll  chanced  to  see  him,  and 
beckoned  him  forward. 

60 


SANTA  ANNA  PROVES  FALSE 

"  Here's  another  friend  of  yourn,  general,"  announced 
Dick,  holding  Ernest  by  the  arm.  "  And  he's  a  Texan, 
too.  We  catch  'em  young,  in  this  country.  You  remem- 
ber him,  I  reckon  ?  " 

The  general  smiled  his  wonderful,  kindly  smile,  and 
stretched  out  his  great  hand,  which  entirely  swallowed 
Ernest's. 

"  I  remember  him  well,  and  I  congratulate  him.  The 
hope  of  Texas  is  in  the  youth  who  shall  be  reared  within 
its  borders." 

Ernest  blushed.  This  was  embarrassing,  but  a  warm 
glow  filled  his  heart,  and  he  determined  to  deserve  those 
encouraging  words.  He  did  not  know  whether  he  was 
doing  right,  yet  now  was  his  opportunity  to  deliver  his 
message ;  so  he  spoke  it. 

"  Tyania  gave  me  a  rifle,  when  I  started,"  he  stam- 
mered. "  And  she  said  to  tell  you,  when  I  saw  you  in 
Texas,  that  she  would  wait  for  you  up  there  but  she  didn't 
think  she'd  come  down  here." 

"Tyania?"  mused  the  general,  in  his  resonant  voice. 
He  repeated  the  name,  dwelling  tenderly  on  the  syllables, 
"Tyania?  A  noble  woman,  who  succored  me  in  the 
darkest  hours  of  my  adversity.  She  belongs  to  my  past 
life.  I  shall  send  for  her,  I  shall  send  for  her;  and  my 
only  fear  is  that  she  will  not  come."  He  swept  a  fierce, 
eagle  glance  around  him.  "  Let  no  man  ever  utter  a  word 
derogatory  to  Tyania  Rodgers." 

And  in  due  time  Sam  Houston  did  send  for  Tyania  to 
share  his  new  life;  but  she  refused  to  leave  her  Indian 
people.  There,  shortly  afterwards,  she  died. 

Dick  Carroll  broke  the  brief  silence  that  followed  the 
general's  emphatic  speech. 

"  I  want  this  lad  to  meet  Jim  Bowie,  too,"  he  said. 
"  Shake  hands  with  Ernest  Merrill,  colonel.  He's  thrown 
in  with  Texas,  and  is  going  to  be  one  of  us  as  fast  as  he 
can.  His  uncle  was  wiped  out  by  the  Injuns  on  the 
Trinity;  named  John  Andrews." 

61 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  I  am  pleased  to  meet  the  nephew,"  responded  Mr. 
Bowie,  politely,  extending  a  slim,  bronzed  hand.  "  I 
have  heard  of  the  unfortunate  fate  of  Sergeant  Andrews/* 

Ernest  bravely  shook  hands  with  a  tall,  straight  man, 
of  powerful  frame,  light,  fine  skin,  and  smooth  complexion 
set  with  small  stern  mouth  and  a  pair  of  coldly  fierce  blue 
eyes.  But  he  had  a  gentle  manner,  and  Ernest  decided  to 
like  him. 

"  Well,  gentlemen,  let  us  to  what  business  there  may 
be,"  prompted  General  Houston. 

The  group  dissolved.  The  general  and  Colonel  Bowie 
and  several  other  men  walked  away;  Dick  Carroll  and 
Ernest  proceeded  to  their  supper. 

"  Sam  Houston's  surely  going  to  stay  in  Texas,"  re- 
marked Mr.  Carroll.  "  You  heard  what  he  said  about 
Tyania  and  his  past  life.  He's  already  sort  of  taken  up  resi- 
dence at  Nacogdoches,  and  agreed  to  be  a  delegate  to  the 
convention,  if  he's  elected.  He  and  Jim  Bowie  are  bound 
for  Be  jar,  where  Houston  talks  to  the  Comanche  Indians, 
to  get  'em  to  attend  a  treaty  council  at  Fort  Gibson  and 
promise  to  be  friendly  to  the  United  States.  Colonel 

Bowie "  he  added.  "Don't  forget  that  youVe  met 

James  Bowie,  He  was  born  in  Georgia,  but  he  was  raised 
in  Louisiana.  You've  heard  of  the  bowie-knife?  Jim 
and  his  brother  Rezin  invented  it — mostly  Rezin,  they  say. 
Jim's  a  terrible  fighter  when  he's  called  on  to  fight.  They 
claim  he's  the  only  man  who  ever  rop  d  and  rode  an  alli- 
gator, alone,  for  fun.  Rezin  and  he  have  been  in  some 
powerful  Indian  tussles,  since  they  came  to  Texas.  He's 
married  now  to  the  daughter  of  Juan  Veramendi,  the  vice- 
governor  of  state  of  Coahuila  and  Texas,  at  Bejar,  and  has 
the  license  for  a  big  cotton  and  wool  factory,  over  beyond 
the  Rio  Grande.  But  I  doubt  if  he's  the  kind  of  a  man 
to  settle  down  to  that." 

The  year  had  changed  from  1832  to  1833,  and  the 
people  of  Gonzales  and  of  all  Texas,  as  far  as  Ernest  could 
hear,  expected  great  prosperity.  Sam  Houston  had  been 

62 


SANTA  ANNA  PROVES  FALSE 

to  San  Antonio  de  Bexar  (or  Bejar),  and  had  returned 
eastward  by  the  great  highway,  the  Royal  Road,  north  of 
Gonzales. 

The  convention  was  to  meet  in  April  to  formulate  a 
constitution  and  other  measures  for  presentation  to  Santa 
Anna  as  soon  as  he  should  be  installed  as  head  of  the 
Mexican  Republic.  Once  permitted  to  elect  its  state 
officers  and  make  its  own  laws,  Texas  would  jump  ahead. 

The  convention  assembled  at  San  Felipe  on  April  I, 
this  1833.  Ernest  did  not  ride  over,  but  Dick  Carroll,  and 
other  Gonzales  citizens,  did,  to  be  on  hand,  so  Gonzales 
was  well  informed  as  to  what  was  done. 

The  constitution  was  drawn  under  the  direction  of 
Sam  Houston,  the  chairman  of  the  committee  to  prepare 
it.  Another  committee  wrote  a  memorial  or  address  to  the 
Mexican  government,  explaining  what  Texas  desired.  It 
said  that  Texas  was  at  a  standstill,  because  of  the  attacks 
by  the  Indians,  the  lack  of  sufficient  laws,  and  the  restric- 
tions placed  upon  immigration  from  the  United  States; 
and  it  asked  that  the  government  decree  of  1830,  which 
ordered  that  no  more  Americans  should  enter  Texas,  be 
officially  repealed. 

Three  delegates  were  appointed  to  carry  the  wishes 
of  Texas  to  the  City  of  Mexico;  but  only  one  made  the 
trip.  He  was  Stephen  F.  Austin  himself,  the  "  Father  of 
Texas."  And  when  he  passed  through  Gonzales,  Ernest 
saw  him  for  the  first  time. 

It  was  not  difficult  to  understand  why  the  people  of 
Texas  loved  Austin  so,  but  he  looked  more  like  a  student 
than  a  pioneer  who  had  brought  the  first  settlers  into 
Texas,  a  dozen  years  ago,  and  had  lived  here  ever  since. 
He  was  slender  and  graceful  and  of  only  medium  height, 
and  wore  a  fringed  suit  of  soft  seal-brown  buckskin — 
although  it  was  said  that  he  had  a  suit  of  broadcloth  with 
him,  to  wear  in  the  City  of  Mexico.  His  hair  was  brown 
and  curly,  his  smooth  face  long  and  fair,  and  his  gray- 
blue  eyes  were  large  and  thoughtful.  He  appeared  tired 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

and  perplexed,  and  not  very  strong.  It  was  claimed  that 
he  was  a  college  graduate,  and  that  since  coming  to  Texas 
he  had  studied  the  Spanish  language  until  he  could  speak 
it  thoroughly,  and  that  nobody  was  better  acquainted  with 
the  Mexican  laws  than  he.  He  and  Sam  Houston  had 
been  born  in  the  same  year,  in  Virginia ;  but  no  two  men 
were  more  different.  Sam  Houston  was  massive  and 
majestic ;  whereas  Stephen  Austin  was  slight  and  modest. 

Austin  proceeded  on  for  the  City  of  Mexico,  where 
General  Santa  Anna  had  been  inaugurated  as  president. 
Gonzales  wished  him  good  luck ;  he  was  paying  his  own 
expenses,  and  he  was  going  all  alone,  and  much  depended 
again  upon  him. 

"  He'll  fetch  back  the  bacon,  if  anybody  can,"  re- 
marked Dick  Carroll,  rather  dubiously.  "  But  sometimes 
I  don't  trust  even  Santa  Anna.  You  never  can  tell  what 
is  about  to  happen,  down  there  in  Mexico ;  and  Santa  Anna 
may  want  to  be  the  whole  thing,  just  like  the  others." 

It  was  a  long  journey  to  the  City  of  Mexico,  and 
weeks  would  pass  before  Texas  could  hear  from  its  peti- 
tion for  a  separate  statehood.  Meanwhile,  affairs  con- 
tinued to  be  not  satisfactory  at  all.  For  instance,  the 
legislature  of  Coahuila  and  Texas,  which  was  more  for 
Coahuila  than  for  Texas,  had  assembled  and  among  other 
measures  adopted  one  that  declared  that  petitions  to  the 
government  "  excited  disorder/'  and  therefore  no  more 
than  three  persons  should  join  in  any  petition.  This  was 
not  the  way  Texas  felt.  Other  resolutions  also  were 
adopted  which  seemed  to  be  aimed  against  the  Texas  half 
of  the  state.  And  soon  afterward  Coahuila  became  even 
divided  against  itself,  when  the  legislature  attempted  to 
change  the  capital  from  the  town  of  Saltillo  to  the  town 
of  Monclova.  A  little  revolution  ensued,  down  there 
across  the  Rio  Grande.  It  was  evident  that  Texas  could 
expect  small  help  from  Coahuila,  and  must  stand  on  its 
own  feet.  The  Mexican  way  of  government  was  not  the 
Texas-American  way. 

64 


SANTA  ANNA  PROVES  FALSE 

Other  disquieting  news  arrived.  Santa  Anna  had  been 
president  only  a  few  months,  when  up  rose  a  party  of 
the  Mexican  people  and  proclaimed  him  dictator,  an 
absolute  ruler  responsible  to  nobody,  much  less  to  the 
republic's  constitution  of  1824.  It  seemed  to  be  the  opin- 
ion that  Santa  Anna  had  hatched  this  movement,  himself  ; 
and  although  he  accompanied  an  army  under  General 
Arista,  to  subdue  the  revolutionists,  he  was  accused  of 
making  only  a  pretense  at  resistance.  Then,  when  General 
Arista  turned  revolutionist,  and  actually  seized  Santa 
Anna  and  insisted  that  he  be  dictator,  the  whole  matter 
looked  more  suspicious  than  ever. 

But  Don  Gomez  Farias,  the  vice-president,  proved  to 
be  honest  and  faithful.  He  promptly  squelched  the  move- 
ment, and  President  Santa  Anna,  finding  that  the  revolu- 
tion was  not  going  to  succeed  and  that  he  could  not  be 
made  dictator  yet,  pretended  to  escape,  and  returned  to  the 
capital.  He  did  not  like  Don  Gomez  any  the  better  for 
his  honesty;  and  saying  that  he  needed  rest  he  retired 
to  his  great  ranch,  there  to  scheme  while  he  waited  another 
opportunity. 

Meanwhile,  again,  Stephen  Austin  was  due  in  the  City 
of  Mexico,  bearing  the  petition  from  Texas  for  the 
national  congress  to  act  upon;  but  with  so  much  con- 
fusion and  plotting,  it  would  appear  that  he  would  arrive 
at  not  a  very  favorable  time. 

In  Gonzales,  even,  not  all  the  people  were  agreed. 
Dick  Carroll  and  some  others  were  strong  for  securing 
Texas  rights  at  no  matter  what  cost;  but  the  majority 
seemed  to  be  in  favor  of  keeping  things  as  they  were,  if 
they  could  not  be  bettered  peaceably.  Gonzales  was  so 
cut  off  from  the  rest  of  the  American  settlements,  and  was 
so  exposed  to  attack  by  Indians  as  well  as  the  Mexican 
soldiery  at  Bejar,  and  so  much  depended  upon  raising 
crops  and  other  supplies,  that  the  town  dreaded  a  general 
up-setting  until  it  was  more  firmly  established.  Indeed,  a 
letter  had  been  dispatched  from  the  town  to  the  Mexican 

65 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"political  chief,"  as  he  was  entitled,  of  the  district,  at 
San  Antonio,  explaining  that  Gonzales  did  not  wish  to 
take  any  part  in  the  differences  between  Bustamante  and 
Santa  Anna,  and  preferred  to  remain  neutral  and  attend 
to  its  own  business.  It  also  had  declined  to  take  sides 
in  the  dispute  with  the  Mexican  officials  in  East  Texas. 

But  when  the  convention  was  held  at  San  Felipe,  to 
prepare  a  constitution  and  to  ask  for  statehood,  then 
Gonzales  sent  delegates.  On  the  question  of  statehood  it 
stood  up  for  Texas.  Dick  Carroll  had  plenty  of  company. 

As  the  weeks  sped,  Ernest  met  a  number  of  Texans 
who  were  as  prominent  as  Colonel  James  Bowie.  There 
was  Colonel  Ben  Milam,  a  Kentuckian  who  had  fought  in 
the  War  of  1812 ;  had  been  an  Indian  trader  in  Texas  be- 
fore the  American  settlements ;  and  a  leader  in  Mexico 
when  the  people  first  tried  to  obtain  a  republican  form  of 
government;  and  a  prisoner  there,  and  afterwards  had 
been  rewarded  by  a  large  tract  of  land,  and  now  had 
another  tract,  for  a  colony,  but  was  unable  to  settle  it  be- 
cause of  the  Indians.  A  dark,  handsome  man  was  Colonel 
Benjamin  R.  Milam,  who  spent  much  of  his  time  over  in 
Coahuila  province. 

There  was  Captain  William  Barret  Travis,  from 
North  Carolina,  who  last  summer,  at  Anahuac  on  the  Gulf 
coast  of  East  Texas,  had  been  thrown  into  a  dungeon  by 
a  tyrannical  Mexican  official,  for  resisting  some  brutal 
soldiery.  Only  twenty-two  was  William  Travis.  His 
home  was  down  on  Galveston  Bay,  near  Anahuac,  but 
Ernest  once  saw  him  while  on  a  trip  to  San  Felipe — a  lithe, 
boyish  six-footer,  with  round  freckled  face,  reddish  hair, 
and  steel  blue  eyes.  People  said  that  he  was  all  nerve ; 
nothing  could  daunt  him. 

There  was  "  Deaf "  Smith,  whose  real  name  was 
Erasmus  Smith,  but  who  was  hard  of  hearing.  Texas 
was  a  great  place  for  nicknames.  A  small,  spare,  leathery- 
faced  and  wrinkled-faced  man  was  "  Deaf  "  Smith,  of 
New  York,  who  kept  very  much  to  himself  and  rarely 

66 


SANTA  ANNA  PROVES  FALSE 

had  anything  to  say  to  anybody.  He  had  come  to  Texas 
in  1817,  and  in  1825  had  been  one  of  the  first  settlers  at 
Gonzales.  He  had  married  a  Mexican  woman  and  now 
lived  at  San  Antonio.  He  was  a  famous  hunter  and 
Indian  scout. 

And  in  Gonzales  itself  there  was  Colonel  Green 
DeWitt,  the  founder  of  the  colony  and  of  the  town:  a 
rather  heavy-set,  full- fated,  smooth-shaven  gentleman, 
with  wavy  hair  well  brushed  down,  a  pleasant  smile,  and 
courtly  manners.  His  family  were  with  him. 

There  was  Major  James  Kerr,  the  other  founder  of  the 
town.  But  he  had  lost  his  wife  and  two  children.  A  little 
girl  was  in  the  care  of  friends  at  San  Felipe. 

There  was  Captain  Matthew  Caldwell,  an  Indian 
fighter.  He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers,  and  was  called 
"  Old  Paint "  Caldwell  because  his  ruddy  complexion  was 
blotched  with  white. 

There  was  Almeron  Dickinson,  not  far  turned  twenty, 
who  had  settled  away  out  here,  found  a  pretty  wife,  and 
was  one  of  the  most  popular  citizens,  and  altogether  a 
splendid  young  man. 

And  there  was  Ezekiel  Williams,  the  first  officially- 
elected  alcalde  or  mayor,  who  had  come  out  in  1829,  and 
now  lived  in  the  "  outer  "  town,  seven  miles  up  the  river. 
And  James  B.  Patrick,  the  new  alcalde;  and  Almond 
Cottle,  the  new  sindico  or  town  attorney ;  and  Byrd  'Lock- 
hart,  the  surveyor ;  and  Winslow  Turner,  of  Turner's  two- 
story  hotel ;  and  Eli  Mitchell,  who  had  a  large  house ;  and 
Dr.  Thomas  R.  Miller,  at  whose  house  the  council  some- 
times met ;  and  the  McCoys  ( seven  of  them) ,  some  of  whom 
were  original  settlers ;  and  the  two  McClures  (Abe  and 
Bart) ;  and  the  Fulshears  (Ben,  Churchill  and  Graves)  ; 
and  the  Jacob  Darst  family,  where  there  was  a  boy  about 
Ernest's  age;  and  Andrew  Ponton,  the  smart  French- 
man ;  and  bold  John  Castleman,  who  contemplated  moving 
on  west ;  and  the  Fuquas,  and  Tumlinsons,  and  Zumwalts, 
and  a  tot  more,  of  the  "  inner  "  town  and  the  "  outer  " 

67 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

town — all  forming  a  large  family  in  which  scarcely  any- 
body was  over  fifty,  and  the  majority  were  under  forty. 

These  and  others  Ernest  met  or  heard  of  while  Texas 
awaited  word  from  Stephen  Austin  at  the  City  of  Mexico. 
He  wrote  about  them  and  about  his  fun  and  work  in  letters 
to  his  mother;  he  had  already  told  her  of  the  death  of 
Sergeant  John  Andrews  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians.  He 
did  not  know  when  his  letters  would  get  to  her,  and  he 
never  knew  when  to  expect  replies ;  for  the  only  way  by 
which  mail  went  and  came  was  by  accommodating  travel- 
lers. A  regular  mail  service  was  one  thing  that  Texas 
was  demanding  from  Mexico.  Ernest  hoped  that  his 
mother  was  not  worrying.  She  said  she  wasn't — but 
mothers  sometimes  say  this  anyway. 

The  summer  of  1833  waxed  and  waned.  At  Gonzales 
a  flat-boat  ferry  was  built  and  placed  on  the  river,  for 
crossing  back  and  forth.  Report  from  the  east  claimed 
that  great  numbers  of  fresh  settlers  had  entered  Texas; 
which  was  good.  But  from  the  southwest,  reports  out  of 
old  Mexico  stated  that  Santa  Anna  was  still  scheming  on 
his  ranch,  that  cholera  had  broken  out  and  that  10,000 
persons  had  died  in  the  City  of  Mexico  alone,  and  that 
congress  was  unable  to  hold  regular  sessions.  Over  in 
Coahuila  the  Mexican  people  were  still  quarrelling  about 
the  location  of  the  state  capital,  the  governorship,  and 
other  matters  ;  and  nothing  that  the  legislature  did,  meeting 
at  Monclova,  pleased  the  people  of  Saltillo,  the  former 
capital. 

All  the  Mexican  part  of  Mexico  seemed  to  be  in  dis- 
order. It  was  high  time  that  Texas,  which  knew  what  it 
wanted,  be  granted  statehood,  so  that  it  could  cut  loose 
from  Coahuila  and  pursue  prosperity  in  the  American 
way  while  the  rest  of  Mexico,  south  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
fussed  and  fought  in  the  Mexican  way. 

Word  was  received  that  Stephen  Austin  had  arrived  in 
the  City  of  Mexico  in  July,  and  that  he  had  immediately 


SANTA  ANNA  PROVES  FALSE 

presented  the  Texas  petition.  But  the  year  aged,  and 
little  further  was  heard  in  Gonzales. 

"  Why  doesn't  President  Santa  Anna  help  ?  "  once 
asked  Ernest,  of  Mr.  Carroll.  "  I  thought  he  was  in 
favor  of  Texas.  Texas  helped  him  in  his  revolution, 
didn't  it?" 

Dick  Carroll  banged  the  supper  table  with  his  fist. 

"  Santa  Anna !  "  he  snorted.  "  He's  going  to  be  dic- 
tator, I  tell  you.  He's  staying  there  on  his  rancho,  so  as 
to  let  Farias  the  vice-president  introduce  republican  laws 
that  will  make  the  other  parties  mad ;  and  when  the  other 
parties  get  strong  enough  he'll  come  out  and  say  that  the 
'  wish  of  the  people  '  must  be  obeyed.  Just  now  he  comes 
out  only  long  enough  to  stir  the  broth  with  his  finger, 
occasionally.  I'll  bet  my  hat  he  fools  Steve  Austin. 
Austin's  a  good  man,  and  a  smart  man,  but  some  of  us 
rather  fear  he's  a  little  too  mild.  Of  course,  it's  better  to 
win  a  p'int  by  peace  than  by  war,  and  Austin  is  a  man  of 
peace,  as  long  as  peace  stands  any  show.  He  hopes  that 
if  we  prove  to  Mexico  we're  honest,  Mexico  will  be  honest 
with  us.  Besides,  we've  all  we  can  do  to  fight  off  the 
Injuns.  But  I  for  one  don't  trust  Don  Presidente  Antonio 
Lopez  de  Santa  Anna  as  far  as  you  can  throw  a  bull  by 
the  tail." 

"Did  you  ever  see  Santa  Anna?"  asked  Ernest, 
curiously. 

"  No,  I  never  did.  But  Ben  Milam  and  several  other 
men  I  know  have  seen  him.  Milam  fought  along  with  the 
patriots  in  1821,  when  Mexico  freed  herself  from  Spain 
and  became  a  republic.  Santa  Anna  was  a  colonel  then, 
on  the  patriot  side,  although  he  was  born  in  Spain  and  was 
in  the  Spanish  regular  army.  When  the  new  president, 
named  General  Iturbide,  turned  about  and  proclaimed  him- 
self emperor,  Milam  and  a  lot  more  who  opposed  him  were 
put  in  jail ;  but  Santa  Anna  headed  another  revolution  that 
deposed  Iturbide,  restored  the  republican  government,  and 
of  course  freed  Milam  and  the  rest.  Santa  Anna  has 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

always  been  ag'in  a  monarchy  or  a  despotism — look  what 
he  did  in  1832  when  Bustamante  tried  to  seize  the  reins — 
and  we  all  have  thought  he  would  be  just  the  man  to 
understand  the  Texas  ideas.  But  he's  surely  acting  sus- 
picious now.  He's  a  brainy  man,  and  not  big  to  look  at. 
About  five  feet  five,  I  hear,  small-boned,  dark  complex- 
ioned,  Spanish  type,  with  good  head  and  smart  face,  and 
fine  manners.  Aged  about  forty-five.  And  he's  quite  a 
soldier,  too.  He's  always  been  successful  in  his  fighting, 
to  date." 

The  year  1834  opened  with  a  terrific  "  norther "  or 
cold,  sleety  storm,  sweeping  struggling  Texas  almost  from 
border  to  border.  The  people  of  Gonzales  were  only  be- 
ginning to  thaw  out  in  the  welcome  sunshine,  when  from 
Stephen  Austin  arrived  bad  news  at  last.  He  had  had  the 
cholera.  The  petition  was  unanswered,  and  congress  kept 
postponing  any  action  on  it.  He  finally  had  told  Vice- 
president  Farias  that  unless  something  was  done  for  Texas 
very  soon,  the  settlers  would  be  likely  to  take  matters  into 
their  own  hands.  Also,  he  had  written  a  long  letter  to 
the  mayor  and  people  of  San  Antonio,  saying  that  he  did 
not  believe  he  could  accomplish  anything  and  that  San 
Antonio  and  the  other  Texas  towns  had  better  meet  and 
form  a  state  government,  anyway,  as  permitted  by  the 
Constitution  of  1824  whenever  Texas  could  prove  that  she 
was  ready  for  statehood. 

Then,  before  this  advice  had  been  spread  far  enough 
to  be  acted  upon,  a  man  on  lathering  horse  rode  post-haste 
from  the  west  into  Gonzales.  He  was  Ben  Milam.  As  he 
drew  rein  in  Market  Square  excited  voices  hailed  him. 

"  What's  the  matter,  Ben?" 

"  Austin's  been  arrested ! " 


IV 

"  WE  MUST  DEFEND  OUR  RIGHTS  " 

"  Austin's  been  arrested! " 

The  terse  sentence  seemed  to  carry  instantly  through 
all  inner  Gonzales,  as  attracted  by  the  galloping  horse  men 
came  running. 

"Steve  Austin  arrested?    When?    Where?" 

"  On  January  3rd,  at  Saltillo,  by  orders  from  the  capi- 
tal. He'd  got  this  far,  on  his  way  home;  now  they're 
taking  him  back  again,  to  the  City  of  Mexico." 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

"  Because  I  was  there  and  saw  it." 

"  What  did  they  arrest  him  for?  " 

"  Mostly  on  account  of  that  letter  he  wrote  to  San 
Antonio,  advising  Texas  to  get  together  and  form  its  state 
government.  The  mayor  sent  the  letter  to  the  capital, 
saying  he  disapproved " 

"The  scoundrel!" 

"  And  Farias  [the  vice-president] ,  who  didn't  like  some 
things  that  Austin  had  said,  anyway,  dispatched  orders 
post-haste  to  have  him  arrested  and  turned  back.  So  he 
was  stopped  down  at  Saltillo,  and  charged  with  treason  to 
Mexico ;  and  back  he's  gone." 

"  Did  you  talk  with  him,  Ben?  " 

"  I  did.  He  was  coming  home  because  he  thought  that 
everything  was  all  right.  Matters  had  quieted  around  the 
capital,  and  in  November  Santa  Anna  called  a  meeting  of 
his  council  to  hear  what  Texas  had  to  say.  So  Austin 
said  it — told  why  he  had  brought  the  petition,  and  why 
Texas  objected  to  being  joined  with  Coahuila.  Every- 
thing went  off  nicely.  The  council  didn't  think  that  Texas 
was  ready,  quite  yet,  to  be  an  independent  state ;  but  they 
agreed  with  Santa  Anna  that  the  law  against  colonization 
by  Americans  should  be  repealed,  and  they  promised  a 

71 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

lot  of  other  reforms.  That  of  course  was  after  Austin 
had  written  the  letter  to  San  Antonio.  He  claims  that  he 
wrote  it  for  fear  Texas  would  take  to  arms  instead  of 
organizing  civilly,  and  would  lose  all  chances.  Now  that 
the  petition  had  been  acted  on  at  last,  in  a  friendly  manner, 
in  December  he  started  home ;  got  as  far  as  Saltillo,  and 
was  arrested.  He  lays  it  to  Farias,  rather  than  to  Santa 
Anna,  who'd  gone  back  to  his  rancho  and  left  Farias  in 
charge." 

"Then  as  soon  as  Santa  Anna  knows,  he'll  release  him." 

"  He's  friendly  to  Texas,  is  Santa  Anna.  We  helped 
him,  and  he'll  help  us." 

"  He  likes  Austin,  too.  He'll  not  see  Texas  and  Steve 
Austin  mistreated." 

Many  were  such  expressions  of  hope,  in  Gonzales,  that 
Santa  Anna  the  president  would  countermand  the  orders 
of  Farias  the  vice-president,  that  Stephen  Austin  would  be 
released  at  once,  and  that  all  would  come  out  well  for 
Texas.  As  onward  through  Texas  rushed  the  tidings  of 
the  arrest,  other  people  were  hopeful,  too.  But  the  hope 
rode  on  a  great  wave  of  angry  protest. 

Austin  arrested?  The  honest,  honorable,  fair-spoken 
Austin,  who  always  had  advised  peaceful  methods,  and 
had  been  faithful  to  Mexico  as  well  as  to  Texas,  and  in 
order  to  obtain  simple  justice  had  borne  his  own  expenses 
as  a  delegate  from  Texas  to  the  Santa  Anna  government, 
and  after  waiting  there  six  months  had  only  frankly  and 
bravely  told  Don  Gomez  Farias  that  if  Texas  was  not 
helped  she  would  have  to  help  herself.  As  for  his  letter 
to  the  Mexican  mayor  of  San  Antonio  de  Be  jar — that  had 
contained  nothing  treasonable.  The  petition  from  Texas 
had  not  been  refused,  yet,  and  he  had  merely  advised  that 
Texas  wait  no  longer  but  go  ahead  and  form  the  state 
government. 

Who  was  Don  Gomez  Farias  ?  Nobody  but  the  vice- 
president!  Santa  Anna  was  the  boss.  Wait  till  Santa 
Anna  the  president  heard. 

72 


"WE  MUST  DEFEND  OUR  RIGHTS" 

So  Gonzales  and  the  rest  of  Texas  did  wait,  and  fume ; 
and  a  public  meeting  held  at  San  Felipe  de  Austin  sent 
to  the  City  of  Mexico  another  petition,  requesting  that 
Stephen  Austin  be  released.  But  it  was  unanswered. 

However,  to  his  town  of  San  Felipe  came  from  Austin 
a  letter  written  on  his  way  as  a  prisoner  back  to  the  City 
of  Mexico.  He  said  that  matters  had  gone  very  well  for 
Texas,  and  that  the  people  there  would  do  wisely  to  be 
grateful  and  to  obey  the  Mexican  regulations  until  the 
better  ones  were  made.  This  sounded  encouraging — but 
it  was  the  last  word  from  him  for  several  months.  News 
out  of  the  City  of  Mexico  stated  that  he  had  been  placed 
in  a  dungeon,  to  await  trial.  He  was  allowed  to  com- 
municate with  nobody  and  nobody  was  allowed  to  com- 
municate with  him. 

"  Just  like  those  Mexicans,"  avowed  Dick  Carroll. 
"  You  see  Santa  Anna  hasn't  released  him  ?  No,  sir !  Mark 
my  words :  Santa  Anna  is  lying  low,  till  all  his  schemes  are 
ripe  for  him  to  be  dictator.  He's  letting  Don  Gomez 
[who  was  Farias  the  vice-president]  have  full  swing  and 
make  republican  laws  that  the  monarchists  don't  like; 
and  when  the  monarchists  are  strong  enough  he'll  come 
out  in  the  open,  be  their  champion,  pretending  it's  the  will 
of  the  people — fire  Farias — who's  a  more  honest  man  than 
he  is — and  sit  the  saddle  himself.  Meantime  he's  holding 
Austin,  as  a  hostage  for  the  good  behavior  of  Texas.  We 
don't  dare  to  r'ar  'round  much  now,  for  fear  of  harm 
to  Steve." 

And  Dick  Carroll  was  proved  to  be  a  shrewd  prophet. 

Texas  continued  in  a  great  confusion.  There  was  a 
hot-headed  war  party,  which  urged  separation  from 
Coahuila  and  establishment  as  a  state  under  the  constitu- 
tion of  1824,  at  any  price,  whether  of  blood  and  arms  or 
not;  and  there  was  a  stronger  peace  party,  which  urged 
the  people  to  wait,  to  abide  by  the  advice  of  Stephen 
Austin,  and  to  go  slow  and  better  their  condition  gradually, 
rather  than  risk  all  on  a  doubtful  war. 

73 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Over  across  the  Rio  Grande,  in  Coahuila  province, 
which  was  the  other  half  of  the  state  of  Coahuila  and 
Texas,  the  confusion  was  worse.  The  people  of  Saltillo 
opposed  whatever  the  people  at  Monclova,  the  capital,  did ; 
but  the  state  legislature,  meeting,  passed  a  number  of  acts 
which  gave  Texas  several  measures  that  it  wanted.  Then 
the  Saltillo  party  declared  all  these  acts,  and  others,  illegal ; 
set  up  their  own  governor,  and  spoke  of  war. 

This  left  Texas  without  any  settled  state  government ; 
and  to  Dick  Carroll  and  many  others,  including  Ernest 
(who  listened  and  thought  as  hard  as  he  could),  it  looked 
as  if  indeed  Texas  must  take  matters  into  its  own  hands, 
or  it  would  go  to  ruin. 

Just  as  Dick  had  predicted,  in  April  Santa  Anna 
emerged  from  his  ranch,  Magna  de  Clavo,  displaced  the 
honest  Don  Gomez  and  the  Farias  cabinet,  disbanded  a 
number  of  state  legislatures,  deposed  some  governors 
whom  he  didn't  like,  dissolved  the  congress,  and  ordered 
a  new  congress  and  a  new  constitution  to  suit  himself ! 

Coahuila  was  in  such  a  condition,  with  three  governors, 
and  no  legislature  at  all,  that  Santa  Anna  ordered  a  new 
election  for  governor.  Don  Augustin  Viesca  was  chosen, 
and  the  capital  was  placed  at  Monclova — which  did  not 
please  Saltillo. 

However,  Texas  took  heart  again.  A  letter  was  re- 
ceived at  San  Felipe  from  Stephen  Austin.  He  had  been 
released  from  prison  by  Santa  Anna,  was  being  well 
treated,  and  Santa  Anna  seemed  friendly  to  Texas. 
Austin  again  counselled  that  his  people  "  go  slow,"  and 
that  the  petition  would  be  acted  upon  favorably,  he  was 
sure.  In  October  he  was  called  to  a  meeting  with  the 
president,  and  made  a  long  talk,  explaining  what  Texas 
desired,  and  why  the  Texas  half  and  the  Coahuila  half 
never  could  agree.  They  were  different  races  and  had 
different  countries  and  different  ideas — and  look  at  the 
confusion  in  Coahuila ! 

Santa  Anna  replied  very  nicely.     He  said  that  he  would 
74 


"WE  MUST  DEFEND  OUR  RIGHTS" 

agree  to  letting  American  colonists  come  in ;  he  would  send 
troops  to  protect  the  settlers  against  Indians  and  smug- 
glers ;  but  he  did  not  think  that  Texas  was  enough  popu- 
lated yet  to  be  a  state  by  itself — he  really  did  not  see  how 
he  was  authorized  to  make  it  a  state;  but  it  could  be  a 
territory ! 

Texas  did  not  wish  to  be  a  territory,  for  then  it  would 
have  no  independence  at  all,  and  all  its  officers  would  be 
supplied  by  the  government  and  they  might  not  be  good 
officers.  And  it  was  suspicious  of  so  many  troops,  who 
might  not  pay  so  much  attention  to  the  Indians  as  to  the 
American  settlers. 

Many  people  thought  that  Austin  was  being  hood- 
winked by  Santa  Anna.  The  president  was  too  smooth- 
spoken, and  Austin  was  gullible.  He  had  not  been  per- 
mitted to  return  yet,  had  he  ?  No. 

Then  another  difficulty  arose.  The  Coahuila  legisla- 
ture, supposed  to  represent  Texas,  too,  began  to  sell  off 
vast  tracts  of  Texas  land,  for  as  low  as  two  cents  an  acre ; 
and  instead  of  giving  the  money  to  Texas,  divided  it  among 
speculators,  while  pretending  to  apply  it  on  a  fund  to 
maintain  a  militia  for  defense  against  the  Indians.  Evi- 
dently Coahuila  was  making  what  it  could  out  of  Texas, 
before  a  separation  occurred. 

Still,  the  Texas  Grand  Central  Committee,  appointed 
by  that  convention  of  1833,  which  had  sent  Stephen  Austin 
to  the  City  of  Mexico,  opposed  war.  It  appointed  sub- 
committees throughout  the  province,  who  should  keep 
track  of  matters  and  spread  any  news  that  came  to  them ; 
but  while  Austin  was  a  prisoner  it  advocated  peace,  as  long 
as  possible. 

This  may  read  dull,  but  life  in  Texas  in  those  days 
was  by  no  means  dull ;  not  even  for  Ernest.  The  Indians 
themselves  shared  the  unrest,  and  kept  things  lively. 
Attacks  and  massacres  were  reported,  in  the  country  dis- 
tricts and  along  the  Royal  Road  itself,  from  Nacogdoches 
to  Bejar.  The  Comanches,  the  Wacos,  the  Cooshatties, 

75 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

the  Tawakanas,  were  very,  very  bad;  and  after  almost 
every  full  moon  (which  was  the  favorite  time  for  raids) 
Gonzales  heard  of  Indian  forays,  in  which  women  and 
children  as  well  as  men  were  killed  and  scalped. 

The  six-pounder  brass  cannon,  which  had  been  sent 
to  Gonzales,  from  the  presidio  at  Be  jar,  for  protection, 
was  kept  ready.  Gonzales  thought  highly  of  that  brass 
cannon.  And  while  on  herd  with  his  horses  Ernest  carried 
his  little  rifle,  and  watched  sharply. 

The  year  1834  passed ;  Stephen  Austin  had  not  re- 
turned, although  he  might  be  expected  any  week,  for  Santa 
Anna  was  "  meditating  "  upon  the  reforms  that  he  had 
promised  to  Texas.  Mr.  Austin,  writing  in  March,  de- 
clared that  the  national  congress  was  considering  statehood 
instead  of  a  territory,  and  in  his  opinion  the  president 
was  about  to  report  "  decidedly  in  favor  "  of  it.  Good 
news,  this,  for  Texas ! 

But  the  same  month  the  legislature  down  in  Coahuila 
sold  400  square  leagues  of  Texas  land  for  $30,000 — about 
a  cent  and  a  half  an  acre. 

However,  Santa  Anna  did  not  like  this ;  the  government 
wanted  to  use  those  lands.  He  declared  the  sale  illegal. 

Bad  news  soon  followed,  to  upset  the  good.  Santa 
Anna  had  determined  to  draw  a  new  constitution;  Coa- 
huila, like  Texas,  stood  firm  for  the  republic's  constitution 
of  1824,  which  granted  so  much  liberty.  Santa  Anna  sent 
troops  into  Coahuila,  under  his  brother-in-law,  General 
Martin  Perfecto  de  Cos,  who  from  Saltillo  ordered  the 
militia  at  Monclova,  where  the  legislature  met,  to  disband. 
Governor  Viesca  opposed  this,  and  with  the  state  papers, 
the  militia  and  Ben  Milam  and  Dr.  John  Cameron  and 
several  other  Texans,  tried  to  change  the  capital  to  San 
Antonio  de  Be  jar.  He  was  captured — he  and  his  party  ; 
and  was  sent  as  prisoner  to  old  Mexico,  and  Ben  Milam 
and  John  Cameron  with  him. 

The  word  that  Ben  Milam  had  been  taken  created  much 
excitement  in  Gonzales. 

76 


"WE  MUST  DEFEND  OUR  RIGHTS" 

What  stirred  Texas  the  deepest,  aside  from  the  matter 
of  a  new  constitution,  was  the  order  from  Santa  Anna  to 
reduce  the  militia.  Only  one  militia-man  for  each  500 
inhabitants  was  permitted,  and  all  the  other  militia  must 
surrender  their  arms  to  the  government !  Many  Americans 
had  been  enrolled  in  the  militia,  and  their  arms  were  their 
own. 

"  Never ! "  cried  Dick  Carroll,  when  he  heard  of  the 
order.  "  What !  Give  up  our  rifles,  and  let  the  Injuns 
murder  us  all?  A  Texan  can't  live,  in  these  days,  and 
protect  his  family,  without  guns." 

Anybody  could  understand  this.  Why,  that  very 
spring  of  1835  had  not  Mr.  Castleman,  who  had  moved 
onward  fifteen  miles  west  from  Gonzales,  come  riding 
furiously,  with  word  that  the  Comanches  had  attacked  and 
murdered  a  party  of  traders  right  on  his  place  (just  as 
they  had  tried  to  murder  him  a  year  and  a  half  before, 
as  Ernest  well  remembered ) ,  and  that  help  was  needed  at 
once.  A  bold  spirit  was  John  Castleman,  whose  ranch 
house  was  a  sort  of  fortress  for  travellers  on  the  trail. 
From  his  house  he  and  his  wife  had  seen  the  massacre — 
and  a  horrid  sight  it  was.  So  a  posse  immediately  rode 
out  from  Conzales — "  Old  Paint "  Matthew  Caldwell,  Dan 
McCoy,  Almeron  Dickinson,  Zeke  Williams,  Jacob  Darst, 
Tom  Malone,  and  twenty  others,  including,  of  course, 
Dick,  with  Bart  McClure  as  captain.  Ernest  would  have 
joined,  but  they  would  not  accept  him.  They  caught  the 
Comanches  and  threshed  them  well.  But  supposing  no 
guns  had  been  allowed !  Santa  Anna,  as  said  Dick  Carroll, 
could  go  "  plumb  to  thunder." 

Before  1835  was  half  over  with,  things  in  Texas  began 
to  look  very  serious  indeed. 

"  There  are  those  three  things,  boys,"  spoke  old  Captain 
John  Moore,  a  famous  Indian  fighter,  who  had  ridden  in 
from  his  Moore's  Retreat  on  the  Colorado.  "  We  won't 
stand  for  a  new  constitution  drawn  by  Santa  Anna  to 
suit  his  tyrannical  notions;  we  won't  be  disarmed — no, 

77 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

sir!  And  we  don't  want  any  4000  Mexican  regular  soldiers 
quartered  over  us,  to  spy  on  us  and  enforce  Santa  Anna's 
laws.  We  want  to  be  a  free  state,  with  our  own  laws 
and  our  own  officers,  as  allowed  by  the  constitution  of 
1824.  We  didn't  come  here  to  form  part  of  a  one-man 
monarchy.  Bustamante  tried  that  on  us,  and  failed ;  and 
Santa  Anna  would  better  not  try  it.  That  soldier  busi- 
ness looks  too  much  like  the  way  the  British  acted,  before 
1776,  in  Boston.  If  Mexico  doesn't  take  care,  there'll 
be  another  battle  of  Lexington,  here  in  Texas,  and  a 
Bunker  Hill,  and  a  Yorktown  to  follow." 

In  Coahuila,  Santa  Anna  had  dissolved  the  state  legis- 
lature, and  had  appointed  a  governor  of  his  own.  Texas 
had  had  nothing  to  say  about  it,  and  now  stood  alone. 

In  June  arrived  by  courier  more  bad  news ;  and  yet, 
according  to  the  war  party  men,  not  such  bad  news,  either. 
Captain  William  B.  Travis  and  a  little  company  had 
attacked  Captain  Tonorio,  the  Mexican  officer  who  was 
trying  to  collect  revenue  taxes  at  the  port  of  Anahuac, 
had  captured  him,  and  had  sent  him  inland  to  San  Felipe. 

Many  persons  did  not  approve  of  this — although  every- 
body liked  William  Travis.  He  was  a  daring  young  man, 
and  never  had  been  afraid  to  act.  It  reminded  Ernest 
of  the  Boston  "  tea  party,"  when  the  colonists  had  opposed 
the  collection  of  the  tea  tax,  and  had  seized  the  vessel  in 
Boston  harbor,  in  1773. 

Now  both  Texas  and  Mexico  were  aroused  thoroughly. 
General  Cos,  who  commanded  the  department  of  Eastern 
Mexico,  which  included  Texas,  dispatched  a  message  to 
the  Mexican  officers  at  Anahuac,  saying  that  a  strong  force 
was  being  sent  there,  to  restore  authority ;  at  the  same  time 
he  informed  the  Texas  leaders  that  he  would  meet  their 
commissioners  and  talk  matters  over;  but  his  dispatches 
were  taken  from  the  messenger,  and  opened. 

At  San  Felipe  a  public  meeting  was  held,  by  the  Texas 
war  party;  and  in  a  speech  R.  M.  Williamson  (he  who 
was  called  "  Three-legged  Willie  ")  declared :  "  Our  coun- 

78 


"WE  MUST  DEFEND  OUR  RIGHTS" 

try,  our  liberty,  and  our  lives  are  all  involved  in  the  present 
contest  between  the  State  and  the  military."  A  printing 
press  at  San  Felipe  published  the  speech  and  proceedings 
in  a  circular,  and  spread  it  broadcast. 

General  Cos  issued  another  proclamation,  warning 
Texas  that  it  would  be  counted  as  rebellious.  From  San 
Antonio  de  Be  jar  the  courtly  Colonel  Ugartechea,  who 
commanded  500  soldiers  there,  issued  his  own  address, 
assuring  his  friends  the  Texans  that  the  proposed  revolu- 
tion would  be  a  great  mistake,  and  that  the  soldiers  were 
being  stationed  in  Texas  solely  as  a  protection  to  the 
settlers.  And  Colonel  Dominic  Ugartechea  was  known  to 
Dick  Carroll,  and  "  Three-legged  "  Williamson,  and  even 
to  Will  Travis,  as  a  brave,  honorable,  conscientious  man. 

But  Ex-Governor  Viesca,  captured  by  the  Santa  Anna 
forces  in  Coahuila,  had  sent  word :  "  Citizens  of  Texas, 
arouse  yourselves,  or  sleep  forever.  Your  dearest  inter- 
ests, your  liberty,  your  property — nay,  your  very  existence 
— depend  upon  the  fickle  will  of  your  direst  enemies. 
Your  destruction  is  resolved  upon,  and  nothing  but  that 
firmness  and  energy  peculiar  to  true  republicans  can  save 
you." 

Alarming  words,  these. 

Then  in  July  arrived  in  Texas  Don  Lorenzo  de  Zavala, 
who  had  been  the  governor  of  the  State  of  Mexico,  at  the 
City  of  Mexico,  and  was  now  fleeing  from  Santa  Anna 
by  reason  of  having  opposed  the  dictatorship  and  the  new 
constitution.  Don  Lorenzo  also  told  the  Texas  people 
to  be  wary. 

Orders  were  sent  from  the  City  of  Mexico  for  his 
arrest;  and  Colonel  Ugartechea,  commandant  at  Bejar, 
issued  an  order  to  Texas  for  the  surrender  of  not  only  him, 
but  William  Travis,  "  Three-legged "  Williamson,  and 
other  American  settlers  who  had  been  outspoken.  They 
were  not  surrendered.  It  would  have  been  dangerous  for 
any  Mexican  official  to  attempt  to  take  them. 

More  trouble  occurred  at  Anahuac.  And  in  the  midst 
79 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

of  all  this  turmoil  who  should  arrive  but  Stephen  Austin, 
landing  on  the  last  day  of  August  from  a  schooner  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Brazos  River  on  the  Gulf  coast.  He  had 
not  been  tried  at  all,but  had  been  passed  from  court  to  court 
until  released  and  told  to  go  home  by  Santa  Anna  himself. 

He  was  worn  out,  the  San  Felipe  reports  said,  by  his 
long  imprisonment — nearly  two  years ;  and  upon  landing 
he  had  walked  the  beach  all  night,  troubled  to  know  what 
to  do.  He  went  to  the  home  of  his  sister,  near  Brazoria 
town,  on  the  Brazos,  about  fifty  miles  below  San  Felipe. 

At  Brazoria,  on  September  8,  the  people  gave  a  great 
dinner  for  him.  Over  1000  citizens  and  settlers  gathered 
there,  to  welcome  him  and  listen  to  an  address.  General 
Houston  came  in,  and  many  another  notable.  It  was  the 
first  large  public  banquet  in  Texas. 

Stephen  Austin  said  that  he  had  left  for  Mexico  City 
with  hopes  of  peace,  but  that  after  persecution  and  im- 
prisonment he  had  returned  to  find  only  unrest  and  threat 
of  war.  Texas  was  entitled  to  be  separate  from  Coahuila ; 
of  this  there  was  no  doubt.  The  only  way  by  which  the 
Texas  farmers  could  prosper  was  through  getting  this 
matter  settled,  so  that  Texas  could  feel  free  to  go  to  work. 
Santa  Anna  had  promised  him  that  the  new  constitution 
should  consider  the  special  needs  of  the  people  of  Texas, 
and  had  been  told  that  if  armed  troops  were  sent  into 
Texas  they  would  be  resisted.  Now,  the  thing  for  Texas 
to  do  was  to  cease  these  outbreaks  and  disputes,  and  to 
call  a  general  convention,  for  the  purpose  of  officially 
drawing  up  resolutions  to  Santa  Anna,  protesting  against 
the  armed  troops,  and  saying  just  what  Texas  desired, 
in  the  new  Mexican  constitution.  This  would  show  that 
Texas  was  united. 

And  he  gave  as  a  toast :  "  The  constitutional  rights  and 
security  and  peace  of  Texas — they  ought  to  be  main- 
tained ;  and  jeopardized  as  they  now  are,  they  demand 
a  general  consultation  of  the  people." 

But  scarcely  had  the  report  of  the  banquet  and  the 
SO 


"WE  MUST  DEFEND  OUR  RIGHTS" 

speech  been  spread  around,  when  came  the  news  that 
General  Cos  was  on  his  way  with  troops  to  land  at 
Matagorda  Bay,  march  inland  clear  across  Texas  to  Be  jar 
and  place  the  country  under  military  rule!  This  must 
not  be  permitted.  Once  let  the  Mexican  soldiery  estab- 
lish themselves  in  Texas,  and  Texas  was  lost. 

There  was  no  time  in  which  to  assemble  the  consulta- 
tion advised  by  Stephen  Austin.  But  at  San  Felipe  imme- 
diately met  the  Central  Committee  of  Safety,  of  which  he 
was  chairman.  On  September  19,  of  this  1835,  *s  issued  a 
proclamation,  signed  by  him,  and  printed  by  the  public 
press  at  San  Felipe — a  press  that  the  government  hated. 

The  proclamation,  as  received  at  Gonzales,  called  upon 
Texans  to  insist  upon  their  rights  under  the  constitution 
of  1824;  to  send  delegates  for  a  general  consultation  and 
authorized  to  act  as  might  be  necessary ;  to  raise  militia 
and  volunteers;  not  to  depend  upon  the  promises  of 
General  Cos  or  other  Mexican  officers.  And  it  added : 

"  War  is  our  only  resource.  There  is  no  other  remedy. 
We  must  defend  our  rights,  ourselves,  and  our  country 
by  force  of  arms." 

Colonel  Ugartechea  had  personally  assured  the 
Gonzales  council  that  no  soldiers  were  to  be  brought  in 
and  distributed ;  but  they  were  coming !  On  this,  Texas 
was  resolved :  that  General  Cos  should  not  march  across. 
In  Gonzales  a  company  of  riflemen  were  enrolled  at  once ; 
everybody  glowed  at  white  heat;  and  herding  his  horses 
on  the  prairie,  Ernest  burned  to  take  part.  He  was  a 
boy,  but  he  could  fight  for  liberty. 

Suddenly,  on  September  25,  there  appeared  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river,  at  the  ferry  crossing,  opposite  town, 
a  Mexican  corporal  and  five  soldiers  and  an  ox-cart.  The 
corporal  sent  word  across  that  he  was  Casimiro  de  Leon, 
of  the  garrison  at  Be  jar ;  and  that  he  had  a  letter  from  the 
political  chief  at  Be  jar  to  the  alcalde  of  Gonzales,  ordering 
that  the  brass  cannon  be  delivered  over  for  loading  upon 
the  ox-cart ! 

81 


ERNEST  CARRIES  THE  ALARM 

FROM  where  he  was  herding  on  the  prairie  Ernest 
knew  that  something  was  happening  in  the  town;  and 
when  he  came  in  he  learned  the  whys  and  wherefores  of 
all  the  excitement  and  riding  to  and  fro.  Andrew  Ponton, 
the  mayor,  was  conveniently  absent,  but  the  letter  had 
been  received  and  opened  by  Joseph  Clements,  the  first 
regidor  or  councilman.  He  had  returned  word  to  the 
corporal  to  wait  on  the  west  bank  until  the  alcalde  should 
return. 

But  give  up  the  brass  cannon?  Never!  Bejar  had 
plenty  of  cannon;  it  had  eighteen  pieces  unmounted  and 
not  being  used  at  all.  Then  why  should  Angel  Navarro, 
the  political  chief,  and  Colonel  Ugartechea  demand  this 
one,  unless  to  make  Gonzales  helpless ! 

A  public  meeting  was  being  called  to  consider  what 
should  be  done.  Only  three  persons  voted  to  deliver  the 
six-pounder.  Everybody  else  voted  to  keep  it.  But  what 
would  happen  next  ?  Colonel  Ugartechea  certainly  would 
send  a  much  larger  force,  to  attack  the  town  and  seize 
the  cannon. 

All  that  evening  and  most  of  the  night  Gonzales  was 
in  a  state  of  high  excitement.  The  families  who  lived 
across  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  hastened  to  move  over 
to  the  east  side,  where  they  might  be  more  protected. 
The  men  in  town  who  feared  to  have  their  families  exposed 
to  a  bombardment  prepared  to  hustle  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren away — for  the  Colorado,  east,  or  north  into  the 
timber.  Ox-carts  were  piled  with  household  goods  and 
provisions. 

Ernest  went  out  on  herd,  the  next  morning,  with  an 
anxious  heart.  He  was  told  to  be  sharp  and  ready,  in 

82 


ERNEST  CARRIES  THE  ALARM 

case  that  Mexican  soldiery  should  appear  or  that  he  should 
be  summoned  to  hurry  in,  horses  and  all.  On  this  day 
Alcalde  Ponton  was  to  reply  to  the  corporal  (who  waited 
on  the  west  bank)  and  inform  him  that  he  must  go  back 
without  the  cannon. 

About  noon  Dick  Carroll  came  galloping  across  the 
prairie,  from  town.  Ernest's  heart  thumped,  and  he  stif- 
fened, alert  to  gather  his  herd  at  the  first  word  of  warn- 
ing. But  no — not  yet.  Dick  drew  up  short. 

"  How's  your  pony,  Ernest  ?     Fresh  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"All  right.  We  need  you.  Leave  everything  and 
ride;  ride  to  Burnam's  and  tell  them  to  spread  word  up 
and  do\vn  the  river  to  rally  for  Gonzales.  Ponton's 
already  sent  word  to  Navarro  and  Ugartechea  that  we 
are  going  to  hold  the  cannon.  Captain  Caldwell  is  riding 
to  Mina  [which  was  a  new  settlement  on  the  Colorado 
above  Burnam's  Crossing]  to  alarm  'em  there.  You 
strike  for  Burnam's.  Tell  'em  we  have  only  eighteen  men, 
but  we'll  stand  our  ground  till  reinforcements  get  here. 
Send  the  word  down  to  Beason's  and  on  to  Felipe.  Tell 
'em  never  mind  Cos,  he  can  be  tended  to  later;  but  to 
come,  with  their  guns.  The  fight  begins  here,  now.  Ride, 
boy ;  don't  spare  your  horse.  We  depend  on  you." 

Ernest  whirled  and  was  away,  enlisted  in  the  Texas 
cause. 

Yes,  ride,  Ernest;  ride!  But  push  not  your  yellow 
pony  too  hard,  for  Burnam's  is  fifty  miles,  and  desperate 
as  is  the  need,  the  race  is  to  the  skillful  and  not  wholly 
to  the  swift.  Sit  light  on  the  saddle,  bear  evenly  on  the 
reins,  and  talk  to  your  faithful  little  steed. 

He  had  cut  across  the  prairie ;  threaded  a  timber  patch, 
midway  of  which  he  dashed  through  Kerr's  Creek;  and 
emerging  from  the  trees  struck  down  the  San  Felipe  road. 
His  pony's  hoofs  hammered  steadily  on  the  hard  clay 
His  rifle  danced  in  its  scabbard  under  his  left  knee,  his 
hat-brim  flared  back  in  the  breeze,  and  under  him  the 

83 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

narrow  trail  flowed  like  a  ribbon  unrolled  by  the  hoof- 
beats. 

With  dark  mane  (for  the  pony  was  a  true  buckskin) 
rising  and  falling  to  every  lunge,  ears  pointed  now  back- 
ward to  catch  his  master's  words,  now  forward  to  antici- 
pate any  alarm,  and  nostrils  flaring  wide  to  drink  deeply 
of  the  air,  the  little  horse  pulled  strongly  on  the  bit.  But 
Ernest,  sitting  square,  and  bearing  firmly  on  the  ox-bow 
wooden  stirrups,  only  let  him  stretch  his  nose,  and  there 
held  him  to  a  gallop. 

"  Steady,  boy ;  steady."  He  patted  the  glossy  neck, 
already  wet ;  and  in  about  five  miles  pulled  him  down  to 
a  walk  and  let  him  puff  and  grunt. 

The  pony  himself  broke  into  an  ambling  trot,  which 
was  his  easiest  gait,  and  which  carried  him  faster  than 
might  be  imagined.  This  was  the  pace  that  he  could 
maintain  all  day;  and  this  was  the  pace  that  an  Indian 
would  have  ridden  him,  mile  after  mile.  An  Indian  pony 
he  was,  of  Texas  mustang  stock;  wiry  and  tough  and 
stanch,  asking  little  and  giving  all. 

Ernest  let  him  walk  and  amble;  then  with  a  word 
and  pressure  of  the  knees  sent  him  into  a  gallop  again. 

They  had  passed  the  Berry  ranch,  four  miles  from 
town ;  but  nobody  seemed  at  home.  Doubtless  the  family 
already  knew  of  the  trouble.  At  Peach  Creek,  ten  miles, 
was  the  McClure  ranch.  Ernest  barely  drew  rein,  to 
shout,  at  a  figure  in  the  doorway : 

"  Gonzales  attacked !    They  need  men!  " 

And  he  was  away  again.  Looking  back,  he  could  see 
men  and  women  running.  Like  a  Paul  Revere  he  felt, 
who  bore  the  word  to  the  minute-men  that  the  British 
were  on  the  march. 

A  lonely  road,  as  ever,  was  this  road  to  San  Felipe,  via 
Burnam's  Crossing.  Only  at  long  intervals  did  he  have 
the  opportunity  to  cry,  flashing  past  traveller  ahorse  or 
with  ox  team : 

"  Gonzales  attacked !    They  need  men ! " 
84 


ERNEST  BARELY  DREW  REIN  TO  SHOUT  AT  A  FIGURE  IX  THE  DOORWAY: 
"GONZALEZ  ATTACKED!  THEY  NEED  MEN!" 


ERNEST  CARRIES  THE  ALARM 

The  Lavaca  was  the  next  stream;  after  that  the 
Navidad;  and  after  that,  but  far,  the  Colorado.  The 
yellow  pony  was  streaked  with  sweat-soaked  dust;  from 
his  lips  and  neck  and  flanks  the  soapy  lather  drifted  in 
shreds  of  foam.  But  he  was  breathing  without  effort, 
he  was  strong  on  his  legs,  his  stride  faltered  not;  and  as 
long  as  he  sweat  freely  and  did  not  stumble,  he  was  good 
for  many  a  mile  yet. 

Occasionally  Ernest  pulled  him  down  to  fast  walk 
and  amble,  so  that  he  might  blow  and  rest  his  muscles. 
Once  they  halted  at  a  ford,  and  the  pony  drank  a  few 
swallows,  but  only  a  few,  to  clear  his  mouth  and  throat 
of  dust.  Then  they  trotted  on,  and  presently  resumed 
the  steady  gallop. 

The  sun  set ;  the  golden  glow  faded  from  the  west  and 
the  stars  appeared.  Through  the  gloam  they  sped,  pound- 
ing away,  with  Burnam's  ever  nearer.  Go  it,  little  horse ! 
Prick  your  ears,  hopefully ;  and  go  it ! 

Those  last  ten  miles  were  the  hardest  of  all.  Not  of 
late  had  Ernest  rasped  forth  his  message,  with  dry  tongue 
and  dusty  throat.  He  had  met  nobody,  he  had  passed  no 
more  ranches.  His  face  burned  with  the  breeze  and  the 
flying  grit,  he  was  blistered  from  the  wet  saddle,  the  rifle 
scabbard  had  chafed  the  inside  of  his  thigh  raw,  and  the 
stirrups  had  gouged  his  insteps  to  the  bone,  he  thought. 
And  he  was  hungry,  being  dinnerless  and  supperless. 

Low  to  the  horizon  had  dropped  the  Great  Dipper, 
and  he  imagined  that  folks  must  be  long  abed,  when  he 
sensed  the  approach  to  the  Colorado.  The  mist  of  the 
bottomlands  and  of  the  river  smote  him  coolly.  Before, 
he  could  see  the  line  of  cottonwoods  and  other  trees, 
marking  the  river  course.  The  pony  pricked  his  ears 
afresh,  as  if  he,  too,  knew  that  the  goal  of  the  eager  race 
was  close  at  hand. 

Ernest  rose  in  his  stirrups,  and  straightened,  to  make 
a  gallant  finish. 

"  Duke !  "  he  cried ;  and  the  nervy  little  pony  leaped 
85 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

with  all  his  reserve  strength.  Dimly  loomed  beside  the 
road  the  ranch  outbuildings,  and  at  sound  of  the  thudding 
hoofs  the  Burnam  hounds  burst  into  fierce  challenge. 

Before  the  block-house  Ernest  pulled  his  pony  to  its 
haunches,  and  while  his  mount  panted  under  him  he 
whooped  loudly  amidst  the  angry  clamor  of  the  dogs. 
Dark  was  the  Burnam  place,  for  Texas  settlers  went  early 
to  bed. 

"  Hello !  Captain !  Oh,  captain !  "  shouted  Ernest,  his 
efforts  tearing  his  throat. 

Now  at  last  a  voice  hailed  him  from  a  window. 

"Who  is  it?  What's  wanted?"  And,  to  the  dogs: 
"  Buster !  Bravo !  Be  quiet !  " 

'Twas  Mrs.  Burnam. 

"  It's  Ernest  Merrill,  from  Gonzales,"  he  called  back. 
"  The  Mexicans  want  our  cannon.  We  need  help." 

"  For  goodness'  sake!  "  he  heard  Mrs.  Burnam  ejacu- 
late. "  Wait  a  minute,"  she  bade. 

Now  there  was  a  stir  within  the  house ;  a  candle  glim- 
mered through  the  shutter  cracks ;  presently  the  door  was 
unbarred  and  Mrs.  Burnam  herself  came  out,  and  hastened 
to  him. 

"  Down,  Buster !  "  she  ordered.  "  You  Bravo,  down ! 
Go  back !  "  She  was  bare-headed,  bare-footed,  with  a 
blanket  thrown  over  her  night  garments.  She  peered  at 
Ernest,  to  recognize  him. 

"  Want  your  cannon,  you  say  ?  You  aren't  going  to 
give  it  to  them !  " 

"  No,  ma'am !  "  declared  Ernest.  "  And  we've  told 
'em  so.  But  if  they  try  to  take  it  we've  only  eighteen  men. 
Captain  Caldwell's  gone  up  to  Mina  with  the  word ;  and 
they  sent  me  to  alarm  you  folks  and  the  other  Colorado 
people,  and  San  Felipe.  Everybody's  to  come  as  quick 
as  they  can.  Never  mind  Cos." 

"  For  goodness*  sake !  "  again  ejaculated  Mrs.  Burnam. 
"  Captain  Burnam's  over  at  San  Felipe,  joining  the  militia 

80 


ERNEST  CARRIES  THE  ALARM 

against  Cos.  But  light,  light,  and  come  in.  We'll  put 
up  your  horse." 

*'  No,  I  mustn't,"  opposed  Ernest.  "If  you'll  alarm 
Reason's  and  the  up-river,  I'll  go  on  to  San  Felipe." 

"  You  can't  do  it,  boy.  Your  pony's  beat  out,  and  so 
are  you.  Come  right  in.  Willie'll  go  on  to  San  Felipe, 
and  we'll  tend  to  the  river  folks  soon  as  it's  light  enough 
to  travel  the  trails.  You  come  in.  You've  done  your 
stint.  When  did  you  leave  ?  " 

"  This  noon." 

"  Well,  your  pony  acts  it,"  said  Mrs.  Burnam.  "  He's 
surely  tuckered." 

Ernest  stiffly  swung  from  his  drooping  horse.  Mrs. 
Burnam  already  was  running  for  the  house;  and  with 
a  grateful  slap  on  Duke's  steaming  neck  he  followed.  The 
family  was  awake.  By  the  candle  light  Will,  the  oldest 
boy,  met  his  mother  and  stared  at  Ernest.  From  their 
beds  in  the  loft  the  other  children  called  excitedly. 

"  Will !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Burnam.  "  This  boy's  from 
Gonzales.  The  Mexicans  want  their  cannon  and  are  going 
to  try  and  take  it.  Saddle  Dandy  as  quick  as  ever  you 
can  and  ride  on  to  San  Felipe.  Tell  'em  to  send  all  the 
men  they've  got.  We'll  tend  to  up-river  and  down-river. 
Captain  Caldwell's  gone  to  Mina,  the  boy  says,  and  I 
reckon  word'll  travel  on  to  San  Felipe,  but  maybe  you 
can  get  there  first." 

This  was  a  frontier  household  and  accustomed  to  act 
quickly  vithout  question.  For  his  boots  and  trousers 
rushed  Will,  and  dashed  out  of  the  door.  Within  a 
minute,  it  seemed,  the  clatter  of  his  horse's  hoofs  echoed 
as  he  raced  away  for  the  ford.  The  babble  of  voices  from 
the  children  in  the  loft  sounded  still  more  excitedly. 

"  Sit,  sit,"  bade  Mrs.  Burnam,  to  Ernest.  "  I'll  put 
up  your  horse  and  then  get  you  a  snack." 

"  No,  I'll  put  him  up,  thank  you,"  answered  Ernest. 
"  He  ought  to  be  rubbed  down." 

"  You're  right,"  she  approved.     "  You'll  find  an  empty 

87 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

stall  in  the  shed.  I'll  show  you  the  way  and  keep  the  dogs 
off."  Together  they  led  the  wearily  stumbling  Duke  to 
the  shed ;  the  dogs,  now  more  friendly,  sniffing  at  Ernest's 
heels.  "After  you've  rubbed  him  down  a  bit  you  can 
throw  him  an  armful  of  hay  from  the  stack  yonder. 
Wouldn't  give  him  much  water  till  he's  breathed  a  while. 
I'll  be  getting  your  snack."  And  Mrs.  Burnam  bustled 
back  to  the  house. 

Ernest  rubbed  Duke  well  with  a  bunch  of  straw ;  and 
when  he  came  in,  a  snack  of  milk  and  cold  corn-bread 
was  waiting  for  him  by  the  candle  light.  The  other 
Burnam  children  had  turned  out  of  bed,  to  cluster  around 
the  table  and  gaze  and  listen  while  he  answered  the  good 
Mrs.  Burnam's  numerous  questions. 

"  Well,  I  declare !  "  she  uttered.  "  Likely  to  attack 
Gonzales,  are  they  ?  We-all  thought  you-all  at  Gonzales 
were  friendly  with  Bejar.  'Pears  like  you  didn't  want  to 
take  part  in  any  of  these  other  uprisings.  Goodness 
mercy !  This  means  war,  and  hard  times  in  Texas,  but 
we've  got  to  defend  our  rights.  Now,  you  go  straight 
to  bed,  and  don't  you  bother.  There's  a  shake-down  in 
the  corner,  where  you  won't  be  disturbed.  First  thing 
in  the  morning,  soon  as  it's  light,  I'll  send  word  to  Hill's 
and  Moore's  and  down  to  Beason's.  You  rest  yourself 
and  your  pony.  I  reckon  you'll  be  wanting  to  start  back 
with  the  first  crowd.  You  couldn't  follow  those  trails 
to-night,  anyhow." 

This  sounded  sensible,  and  Ernest  rather  gladly  went 
to  bed  on  his  shake-down.  At  any  rate,  the  word  was 
being  carried  to  San  Felipe.  And  in  the  gray  of  the 
morning  he  was  drowsily  conscious  that  two  of  the  other 
children  had  galloped  out  of  the  yard.  Bareback,  with 
rope  bridles,  they  had  been  dispatched,  one  south  twelve 
miles  to  Beason's  Crossing  (a  place  similar  to  Burnam's), 
the  other  to  the  Hill  place,  and  Moore's  Retreat  further 
north.  This  left  not  a  horse,  except  his  yellow  pony ;  for 
the  Burnams  were  by  no  means  wealthy,  yet,  in  horses. 


ERNEST  CARBIES  THE  ALARM 

However,  the  children  returned  triumphant  in  the 
middle  morning;  but  already  had  the  first  of  the  alarmed 
settlers  arrived,  from  across  the  river.  Will,  on  his  way 
to  San  Felipe,  had  informed  them.  Then,  hour  by  hour, 
more  reinforcements  came  in,  by  twos  and  threes;  from 
Reason's  (still  known  as  such,  although  Mr.  Beason 
himself  had  been  killed  by  the  Indians  several  years  be- 
fore) and  vicinity,  down  the  river,  and  from  the  ranches 
up  the  river.  Young  James  Monroe  Hill  was  among  the 
earliest,  and  him  Ernest  was  much  pleased  to  see.  They 
shook  hands. 

"  Pap's  coming,  too,  when  he  can,"  announced  Jim. 
"  But  he  may  cut  through  direct.  What  are  we  going  to 
do?  Fight?" 

"  I  guess  we  are,"  assured  Ernest. 

"  Who's  in  command  there  now  ?  "  demanded  Jim. 

"  Captain  Albert  Martin,  I  reckon,"  answered  Ernest. 

"  Well,  I  bet  no  Mexicans  will  take  any  cannon  away 
from  Captain  Martin,"  asserted  Jim.  "  Not  if  there  are 
any  Americans  in  Texas!  Shucks!  Why  don't  we  go, 
I  wonder.  We've  got  enough  here  now  to  lick  the  whole 
Mexican  army." 

That  scarcely  was  true.  However,  the  number  was 
slowly  swelling,  as  settlers  continued  to  arrive — all 
with  their  muskets,  shotguns,  and  long  Kentucky  and 
Mississippi  rifles,  their  powder-horhs  and  bullet-pouches ; 
many  ahorse,  but  some  afoot,  for  in  Texas  even,  where 
horses  were  cheap,  not  every  man  possessed  one. 

They  figured  that  they  ought  to  start  in  number  suffi- 
cient to  break  through  into  Gonzales  in  case  that  the 
Mexicans  surrounded  it ;  and  anyway,  it  would  take  two 
or  three  days  for  the  troops  from  Be  jar  to  get  there. 
By  late  evening  (as  afternoon  is  called,  in  Texas)  some 
twenty  settlers  had  gathered  at  Burnam's;  they  camped 
in  the  yard  that  night,  and  at  daybreak  they  started,  Ernest 
and  Jim  riding  side-by-side. 

Duke  was  a  bit  hobbly,  but  he  had  had  a  good  rest  and 
89 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

plenty  of  feed  and  water,  and  he  was  an  Indian  pony. 
Gradually  he  limbered,  for  the  horsemen  rode  at  amble 
and  easy  lope,  to  keep  their  mounts  fresh.  The  footmen 
toiled  far  behind.  Broad-hatted  or  fur-capped,  sinewy 
and  bronzed,  was  the  cavalcade — some  bearded,  some 
smooth-faced,  all  armed  with  gun  and  knife,  and  a  few 
had  pistols  also.  Old  Captain  John  H.  Moore,  from 
Moore's  Retreat,  led. 

"  That's  a  good  little  hoss  of  yours,"  appraised  Jim, 
to  Ernest.  "  Same  one  you've  always  had,  isn't  he?  " 

"  He  sure  is,"  declared  Ernest. 

"  Good  little  rifle,  too,  I  reckon,"  further  appraised 
Jim.  "  But  I  got  one  to  match  it."  So  he  had — a  rifle 
almost  the  same  size. 

"  Sam  Houston's  wife  gave'it  to  me,  up  in  the  Cherokee 
nation,"  informed  Ernest. 

"  Dad  gave  me  mine,"  said  Jim.  "  And  I've  promised 
no  Mexican'll  ever  get  it.  I'll  break  it,  first.  Do  you 
know  Sam  Houston  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  do,"  responded  Ernest.  "  I  know  him  and 
his  wife,  too.  Knew  'em  up  at  Fort  Gibson,  before  I 
came  into  Texas." 

"  Sho' ;  is  that  so  ?  "  commented  Jim,  with  some  inter- 
est. "  He's  a  master-hand  with  Injuns,  they  say." 

"  Yes,  and  he's  a  fine  man,"  asserted  Ernest,  loyally. 
"  He's  a  General  Jackson  man  and  a  regular  soldier. 
Expect  we'll  need  him  if  we  have  war  with  Mexico." 

"  Well,  he's  a  master-hand  with  Injuns,  anyway," 
repeated  Jim,  not  committing  himself  further.  "  I  hear 
tell  he's  been  sent  out  from  San  Augustine  to  talk  with 
the  East  Texas  Injuns  and  get  'em  to  keep  quiet  during 
the  fuss.  It  sure  would  be  bad  if  we  had  to  fight  the 
Injuns  and  the  Mexicans  both  at  once." 

"  It  surely  would,"  agreed  Ernest.  "  But  Sam 
Houston  can  talk  to  'em  if  anybody  can.  They  all  trust 
him.  And  that  helps  Texas." 

90 


ERNEST  CARRIES  THE  ALARM 

"  Reckon  so,"  admitted  Jim.  "  Wonder,  now,  if  Sion 
Bostick  isn't  going  to  join  this  fracas.  He  ought  to  be 
coming  along.  Sort  of  looked  for  him  at  Burnam's,  but 
maybe  he  has  to  stay  home  and  tend  school." 

"Who's  Sion  Bostick?"  demanded  Ernest.  "Does 
he  live  down  toward  Beason's  ?  " 

"  Yep.  Smart  lad,  too.  His  father  died  year  before 
last,  and  that  leaves  the  family  short-handed.  They  came 
to  Texas  in  '28;  they  used  to  live  over  at  San  Felipe. 
There's  an  Irishman  teaches  school  at  their  house.  Ex- 
pect, though,  if  this  war  keep  up  the  school'll  have  to  quit ; 
and  then  we'll  see  Sion — if  his  mother '11  let  him  come, 
and  I  rather  guess  she  will,  when  he's  needed." 

Thudity-thud,  thudity-thud,  up  the  Gonzales  road  they 
all  pushed,  steadily  rising  and  falling  in  their  saddles, 
every  eye  grimly  set  before.  They  crossed  the  Navidad, 
and  the  Lavaca,  and  shortly  after  noon  they  crossed  Peach 
Creek.  With  Gonzales  only  ten  miles  ahead,  they  strained 
their  ears  for  cannon-shots.  But  they  heard  nothing. 
The  landscape  dozed  undisturbed  and  peaceful. 

"  Gonzales  isn't  taken  yet"  vouchsafed  Jim. 

Ten  miles  to  Gonzales — eight — five — three ;  and,  hur- 
rah, there  clustered  the  little  town,  apparently  just  as  vvhen 
Ernest  had  left — so  long  ago,  as  seemed  to  him. 

"  No  Mexicans  in  sight,  boys,"  cried  voices  in  the 
column.  "  We're  in  time." 

And  now  at  thundering  gallop  they  all  forged  on,  into 
Gonzales,  answering  cheer  with  cheer. 


VI 

GONZALES  KEEPS  ITS  SIX-POUNDER 

YES,  Gonzales  was  still  all  right.  No  more  Mexican 
soldiers  had  appeared,  and  this  afternoon  Almeron 
Dickinson  and  a  party  of  the  settlers  had  crossed  the 
river  and  taken  the  corporal's  party  prisoners.  These 
were  now  held  under  guard  in  the  Gonzales  jail.  The 
cannon  had  been  buried  in  George  Davis's  peach  orchard, 
and  the  ground  plowed  over  it.  But  it  was  to  be  dug  up 
again,  for  the  corporal  had  forwarded  Alcalde  Ponton's 
answer,  to  Bejar,  and  also  one  of  the  soldiers  had  escaped  ; 
probably  troops  already  were  on  their  way  from  Bejar, 
which  was  only  two  days'  travel  distant.  So  the  cannon 
would  be  needed. 

However,  the  original  eighteen  defenders  had  been 
increased  by  a  dozen  or  more,  before  Ernest's  return  with 
Jim  and  the  other  recruits ;  the  ferry  had  been  hidden  in 
the  slough,  and  every  dug-out  had  been  tied  up  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  river;  and  this  afternoon  and  all  night  more 
settlers  flocked  in — from  Mina  (which  is  now  Bastrop) 
on  the  Colorado  above  Moore's,  and  from  Rutersville, 
beyond  Hill's  place,  and  from  Beason's,  below  Burnam's, 
and  from  San  Felipe ;  so  that  in  the  morning  orf  the  2gth 
a  hundred  had  gathered.  More  were  coming. 

John  H.  Moore  was  elected  colonel,  to  command  opera- 
tions ;  Mr.  J.  W.  E.  Wallace  was  elected  lieutenant-colonel. 

Ernest  sought  out  Jim  Hill,  the  first  thing  after  break- 
fast, and  he  and  Jim  stayed  together  most  of  the  day. 
Along  toward  noon  a  Mexican  soldier  appeared  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  river,  and  signalled  that  he  bore  dis- 
patches. Colonel  Moore  answered  that  if  he  had  any- 
thing to  communicate  he  might  leave  his  horse  and  swim 
and  wade  across,  and  so  he  did,  not  in  very  good  humor. 

He  had  three  dispatches.  One  was  from  Colonel 
92 


GONZALES  KEEPS  ITS  SIX-POUNDER 

Ugartechea,  at  Be  jar,  saying  he  had  sent  Lieutenant 
Castaneda  and  one  hundred  dragoons  for  the  cannon; 
and  if  it  was  not  surrendered,  the  alcalde  and  all  other 
citizens  who  resisted  were  to  be  brought  as  prisoners  to 
Bejar.  Another  was  from  the  political  chief,  Angel 
Navarro,  ordering  the  alcalde  to  obey  him  and  not  to 
delay  for  further  instructions.  The  third  was  from  Lieu- 
tenant Castaneda  himself,  saying  that  he  was  within 
a  few  hours' march,  and  wished  an  interview  with  the 
alcalde. 

Colonel  Moore  replied  that  Alcalde  Ponton  was  again 
absent,  but  might  return  within  three  hours,  when  an 
answer  would  be  made. 

"  Whoopee !"  laughed  Jim.  "  It's  just  a  little  waiting 
game,  while  we  get  reinforcements." 

That  afternoon  the  cannon  was  dug  up  out  of  George 
Davis's  peach  orchard  and  was  mounted  on  the  two  front 
wheels  of  one  of  Captain  Martin's  cotton  wagons;  John 
Sowell  and  Dick  Chisholm,  who  were  blacksmiths,  said 
they  would  make  some  cannon-balls  for  it. 

That  night  Jesse  McCoy,  Joe  Kent,  Graves  Fulshear, 
and  Will  Arrington  kept  watch  at  the  ford  to  see  that  no 
Mexicans  crossed.  In  the  morning  they  reported  that 
several  dragoons  had  come  down  to  the  river  to  water 
horses,  and  could  have  been  easily  potted,  but  weren't. 

In  the  morning  the  whole  Mexican  troop  were  in  sight, 
camped  across  the  river.  Lieutenant  Castaneda  rode 
forward  to  the  ford  and  called  over  that  he  would  receive 
the  reply  from  the  alcalde,  as  promised.  First  Regidor 
(or  councilman)  Joseph  Clements  called  back  that  the 
alcalde  was  still  absent,  but  he  had  been  sent  for  and  would 
reply  about  four  o'clock.  So  Lieutenant  Castaneda  re- 
tired, because  he  dared  not  try  to  force  the  ford,  in  the  face 
of  the  Texas  rifles. 

This  was  the  3oth.  Now  there  were  some  200  volun- 
teers, all  told,  in  Gonzales.  Mr.  Chisholm  and  Mr.  Sowell 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

were  working  hard,  cutting  ox  chains  into  short  pieces,  for 
the  cannon,  and  welding  iron  scraps  into  balls.  The  can- 
non itself  was  mounted  and  ready. 

Accordingly,  at  four  that  afternoon,  Regidor  Clements 
reported  to  Lieutenant  Castaneda.  He  stood  on  the 
Gonzales  side  of  the  river,  and  yelled  across  to  the  lieu- 
tenant on  the  other  side.  Gonzales  was  not  very  hos- 
pitable; but  Mr.  Clements  had  too  much  sense  to  trust 
himself  on  the  dragoons'  side. 

Everybody  present  could  hear  the  message. 

"  The  alcalde  is  still  absent,"  shouted  Mr.  Clements,  in 
very  good  Spanish.  "  And  in  his  absence  it  has  fallen 
to  my  lot  to  reply  to  the  communication  sent  to  him  asking 
a  second  time  for  the  cannon.  The  right  of  consulting 
with  our  own  political  chief  of  the  department  of  the 
Brazos  seems  to  be  denied  us.  Therefore  my  reply  re- 
duces itself  to  this :  I  cannot,  nor  do  I  desire  to,  deliver 
up  the  cannon ;  it  was  given  to  us  for  our  defense ;  and 
this  is  the  sentiment  of  all  the  members  of  the  council 
now  here  present.  The  cannon  is  in  the  town,  and  only 
through  force  will  we  yield.  We  are  weak  and  few  in 
number,  nevertheless  we  are  contending  for  what  we 
believe  to  be  just  principles." 

When  Regidor  Clements  finished  reading  aloud  the 
paper  that  he  had  drawn  up,  the  lieutenant  replied.  He 
said  that  the  cannon  had  only  been  loaned,  and  had  not 
been  a  gift ;  and  that  by  making  prisoners  of  the  corporal 
and  party  the  town  had  committed  a  crime  against  the 
dignity  of  the  Mexican  republic. 

Regidor  Clements  stood  firm,  and  said  that  the  answer 
was  what  he  had  just  read ;  but  if  Lieutenant  Castaneda 
really  desired  the  cannon,  he  might  come  over  and  get  it . 
At  that  the  lieutenant  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  rather 
comically  replied: 

"  Many  thanks,  senor.  I  suppose  I  need  not  come  if 
I  don't  want  to."  Then  he  saluted  and  retired  to  his 

ft* 


GONZALES  KEEPS  ITS  SIX-POUNDER 

troop.  Ernest  and  Jim  and  all  the  other  Texans  cheered. 
Thus  the  matter  rested. 

"  Cracky !  "  blurted  Jim.  "  Wish  they  would  try  to 
cross.  Wouldn't  we  pepper  'em !  " 

"  There  comes  the  ferry/'  informed  Ernest.  "  Maybe 
we'll  cross,  ourselves." 

And  sure  enough,  the  ferry  was  being  poled  down 
from  the  mouth  of  the  slough  and  was  tied  on  the  Gonzales 
side,  ready  for  business. 

But  Lieutenant  Castaneda  did  not  try  to  cross.  He 
camped  his  troop  back  from  the  river  a  short  distance,  on 
DeWitt's  Mound,  as  it  was  called.  'Twas  rumored  that 
he  had  dispatched  couriers  to  Bejar,  for  help. 

To-day  the  Gonzales  volunteers  were  drilled  in  com- 
panies under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Moore,  and  the  can- 
non was  loaded  with  the  pieces  of  ox  chains.  Young 
Almeron  Dickinson,  who  had  been  appointed  a  lieutenant, 
was  placed  in  charge  of  it. 

Everything  seemed  to  be  ready.  Two  hundred  volun- 
teers were  present;  the  cannon  was  pointed  at  the  ford. 
The  next  noon  the  Mexican  dragoons  were  observed  to 
ride  away,  up  the  river.  The  scouts  who  spied  upon  them 
reported  that  they  had  camped  again,  this  time  on  Zeke 
Williams's  farm,  seven  miles  above,  but  still  west  of  the 
river,  and  were  eating  all  the  water-melons !  Mr.  Williams 
did  not  like  this. 

"  What  are  we  going  to  do  now,  I  wonder?  "  ventured 
Ernest,  to  Jim.  "  Maybe  they're  going  back  to  Bejar 
without  the  cannon,  and  there  won't  be  any  fight." 

*'  Shucks ! "  derided  Jim,  who  was  older  and  was  sup- 
posed to  know.  "  Don't  you  believe  there  won't  be  any 
fight.  They'll  just  wait  for  reinforcements.  If  we're 
going  to  lick  'em  we'd  better  lick  'em  right  away.  You 
can  count  on  old  Colonel  Moore  to  fix  'em  plenty. 
Castaneda's  a  republican,  though,  and  against  Santa  Anna 
despotism,  and  like  as  not  he  doesn't  want  to  fight  us  other 

95 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

republicans.  But  if  he's  under  orders  to  take  the  cannon 
he's  got  to  do  his  best  or  else  join  with  Texas." 

"  Somebody  says  Ugartechea  told  him  if  we  were  too 
strong  he'd  better  retreat  and  not  wait  to  be  licked,  for 
if  he  was  licked,  that  would  hurt  Mexico  and  help  the 
Texan  cause,"  vouchsafed  Ernest. 

"  Reckon  that's  so,"  responded  Jim.  "  But  he'd  bet- 
ter get  out  of  here  mighty  quick.  We  mean  business. 
Zeke  Williams  will  go  after  him  for  stealing  those  water- 
melons !  That  crop  means  money." 

"  Bill  Smithers  is  with  'em.  Did  you  know  that  ?  " 
demanding  Ernest.  "  He's  a  Gonzales  man,  and  they've 
caught  him  and  are  holding  him." 

"  So  I  hear  tell,"  answered  Jim.  "  That  won't  cut 
much  figure.  We've  still  got  their  corporal  and  several 
other  soldiers." 

The  opinion  in  town  was,  that  the  lieutenant  had 
camped  either  to  await  reinforcements  from  his  colonel, 
or  to  cross  the  river  by  the  ford  above  the  Williams  place, 
and  come  down  on  Gonzales  from  the  north  through  the 
timber  and  the  prairie  strip.  This  of  course  would 
never  do. 

"  You  boys  both  ready?  "  queried  Dick  Carroll,  stroll- 
ing by  Jim  and  Ernest,  late  in  the  afternoon.  "  There'll 
be  something  stirring  before  dark,  so  I  thought  I'd  warn 
you.  Looks  like  we'd  get  over  on  the  lieutenant's  side, 
an '  pay  him  a  call." 

"We're  ready,"  they  assured.     And 

"  Ginger !  Wish  I  had  more  powder,"  remarked  Jim, 
to  Ernest.  "  How  many  loads  you  got  ?  " 

"  Ten,"  replied  Ernest,  dubiously.  "  Hope  that'll  be 
enough.  I'll  give  you  one  if  you  run  short." 

"Your  bullets  don't  fit  my  gun,  though,"  reminded 
Jim.  "  Maybe  I  can  double  patch  'em.  But  I  guess  pow- 
der alone  will  fill  the  bill.  It'll  make  a  noise.  Just  to 
hear  a  gun  go  off  scares  those  hombres  [men]  into  fits." 

Evidently  Jim  did  not  think  much  of  the  Mexican 
96 


GONZALES  KEEPS  ITS  SIX-POUNDER 

soldiery.  Neither  did  most  of  the  other  volunteers.  Still, 
the  camp  of  Lieutenant  Castaneda,  on  Zeke  Williams's 
farm,  was  known  to  be  a  strong  position,  well  chosen ;  and 
the  dragoons  were  regulars  of  the  Mexican  army,  thor- 
oughly equipped  with  muskets  and  pistols. 

As  Dick  Carroll  had  predicted,  that  night  at  seven 

o'clock  orders  were  given  to  move  from  Eli  Mitchell's 

cornfield,  where  the  little  army  was  camped,  and  to  cross 

the  river  with  the  cannon.     The  cannon  was  trundled  by 

roxen  upon  the  flatboat  ferry;  the  footmen  were  ferried 

fover  also,  by  the  flatboat  and  by  dug-outs;  the  horses 

forded;  and  Colonel  Moore  summoned  the  officers  to  a 

council  of  war.     They  all  could  be  dimly  seen,  squatting  in 

a  circle.     Presently  the  circle  broke  up. 

"  Wonder  if  we're  going  to  fight,"  queried  Ernest,  of 
Jim,  as  they  sat  their  horses,  waiting  with  the  other 
horsemen. 

"  Dunno.  Quien  sabe?"  responded  Jim — which  meant, 
in  Spanish,  "  Who  knows  ?  "  And  he  suddenly  added : 
"  Reckon  we  are,  though.  There  conies  the  parson,  to 
tell  us  how." 

For  the  Reverend  W.  P.  Smith,  the  Methodist  preacher 
who  had  accompanied  the  Rutersville  volunteers,  had 
mounted  his  horse  and  ridden  forward  from  the  council, 
to  halt  and  hold  up  his  hand  in  signal.  He  was  easily 
identified  by  his  black,  broad-brimmed  flat  hat,  and  his  long 
black  coat. 

"  Listen  to  the  parson,"  rose  the  cry ;  and  the  ranks 
were  formed  to  hear  him. 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Smith  made  a  stirring  speech:  he 
told  the  volunteers  that  they  were  about  to  move  against 
the  enemy  who  were  invading  their  rights,  and  that  the 
time  had  come  when  Texas  should  strike  another  blow 
for  human  liberties.  This  was  to  be  a  second  Battle  of 
Lexington;  and  everyone  should  remember  the  glorious 
example  set  by  the  American  minute-men  of  '76.  Free- 
dom was  at  stake,  and  tyranny  should  not  prevail.  Wives 

97 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

and  children  were  waiting  in  Gonzales  and  elsewhere,  for 
victory ;  and  all  Texas  also  was  waiting. 

He  removed  his  hat,  and  while  every  head  was  bared 
likewise,  he  offered  a  short  prayer  for  success  for  the 
right,  in  this  struggle  now  begun. 

"  Bully  for  the  fighting  parson,"  murmured  Jim,  when 
the  prayer  was  concluded ;  and  a  hearty  cheer  went  up. 

Orders  to  advance  were  immediately  given.  Colonel 
John  Moore  and  his  aides  rode  ahead ;  the  army  followed, 
cannon  in  the  centre,  and  scouts  out  on  either  flank. 

The  night  was  damp  and  dark.  Scarcely  anybody  had 
much  to  say.  Even  Jim  was  unusually  silent.  The  words 
of  Preacher  Smith  had  made  a  deep  impression.  The 
war  for  liberty  had  actually  started — and  it  was  no  joking 
matter. 

After  a  march  of  about  five  miles,  halt  was  ordered. 
Pickets  were  posted,  and  the  men  were  told  to  sleep.  It 
was  a  free  and  easy  sort  of  a  camp,  with  no  tents  and 
everybody  rolled  in  blankets.  Ernest  and  Jim  lay  side 
by  side — and  they  lay  side  by  side  through  many  a  night 
thereafter. 

Jim  went  to  sleep  first.  Ernest  felt  too  excited  to 
sleep,  but  sleep  he  did,  nevertheless,  although  he  slept 
cold ;  and  the  first  thing  that  he  heard,  when  awakened 
by  a  general  stir  around  him,  was  Jim's  disgusted  excla- 
mation : 

"  Jiminy  Christmas,  what  a  fog !  Can't  see  a  thing ! 
Couldn't  hit  the  side  of  a  barn  if  my  feet  were  touching 
it!" 

That  might  be  so.  At  any  rate,  since  they  had  camped 
a  regular  Texas  fog  had  settled  down ;  and  now  in  the 
gray  of  very  early  morning  (four  o'clock  was  the  hour) 
the  whole  landscape  was  a  blank.  Soaked  were  the 
blankets,  and  dripping  were  the  grass  and  shrubs  and 
exposed  noses. 

"Glad  I  put  my  rifle  in  under  with  me,"  remarked 
Ernest  "  Did  you  put  yours  in  ?  " 

98 


GONZALES  KEEPS  ITS  SIX-POUNDER 

"  Sure,"  said  Jim,  as  they  dressed  by  pulling  on  their 
boots.  "  Hope  the  cannon  doesn't  miss  fire  on  us.  Touch- 
hole  ought  to've  been  covered." 

However,  Lieutenant  Dickinson  could  be  depended 
upon  to  attend  to  that. 

"  Anyway,"  observed  Jim,  "  if  we  can't  see  the  Mexi- 
cans they  can't  see  us,  and  we  can  get  right  close  up  to 
'em.  We  know  the  country  better  than  they  do." 

Without  delay  for  coffee,  the  ranks  were  formed  again 
by  the  impatient  Colonel  Moore.  The  horsemen  cinched 
their  wet,  hunched  horses,  and  climbed  aboard ;  and  once 
more  the  army  moved  forward,  toward  Ezekiel  Williams's 
place,  in  regular  line  of  battle. 

Lieutenant  Dickinson  and  his  cannon  and  cannoneers 
were  in  the  centre.  The  cavalry,  fifty  in  number,  were 
placed  at  front,  to  cover  the  cannon — Ernest  and  Jim 
sticking  together,  touching  knees  in  the  fog.  On  either 
side  of  the  cannon  were  the  infantry,  in  two  columns; 
and  skirmishers  mounted  and  unmounted  extended  on  the 
flanks  to  right  and  left.  The  Reverend  Mr.  Smith  rode 
before,  with  Colonel  Moore  and  staff. 

"  Looks  like  we  were  going  to  surprise  'em,"  whis- 
pered Jim,  as  the  march  proceeded  almost  in  silence,  for 
even  the  cannon  wheels  were  muffled  by  the  damp  ground. 

"  Must  be  getting  near  to  Williams's  melon  patch," 
whispered  back  Ernest. 

"Bang!" 

That  was  a  musket,  sounding  dully  in  the  dense  white 
mist.  Some  of  the  skirmishers  had  run  into  a  Mexican 
picket. 

"  Pop !    Pop-pop !  "  cracked  rifles. 

Not  far  ahead  lilted  the  high  notes  of  a  trumpet.  The 
Mexican  camp !  Back  from  Colonel  Moore  raced  an  aide, 
shouting  orders;  and  the  company  officers  galloped  to 
carry  them  out. 

"Column,  by  the  right  flank!  March!"  bawled 
Ernest's  commander, 

H 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  Hooray !  "  cheered  Jim,  as  bending  in  their  saddles 
they  all  swerved  and  raced  across  the  front.  "  Get  out 
of  the  way  of  that  cannon,  you ! " 

They  were  formed  again  on  the  extreme  end  of  the  line 
at  the  right  of  a  company  of  the  infantry.  The  cannon 
properly  stayed  in  the  centre,  where  it  belonged ;  and  the 
other  company  of  infantry  were  on  the  left  of  line.  Here 
at  the  right,  in  company  front,  the  cavalry  and  infantry, 
advancing  together,  made  quite  a  sight — as  far  as  they 
could  be  seen. 

The  muskets  of  the  Mexican  pickets  and  the  rifles 
and  shot-guns  of  the  Texas  skirmishers  were  still  answer- 
ing one  another;  but  it  was  all  a  waste  of  powder,  and 
soon  the  firing  ceased. 

Colonel  Moore  had  ordered  a  halt,  until  the  fog  lifted. 
Duke  stood  with  ears  pricked,  as  if  he  wondered  what  all 
this  commotion  was  about. 

"  Shake  up  your  priming,  boy,"  cautioned  Jim,  to 
Ernest,  as  they  sat  carefully  covering  their  rifle  pans  with 
their  coats.  "  She's  thinning." 

And  so  "  she  " — the  fog — was :  slowly  drifting  away, 
and  more  and  more  revealing  the  country  around.  Ernest 
nervously  wiped  his  flint  with  his  damp  fingers,  and  clapped 
his  hand  against  the  lock  plate  to  shake  the  priming  in  case 
that  it  was  caked. 

Now  could  be  made  out  the  ghostly  forms  of  trees, 
and  other  objects ;  and  a  low  order  was  issued  "  to  move 
forward  at  a  walk."  The  whole  line  moved.  The  Mexi- 
can pickets  began  to  fire,  again ;  and  on  the  left  some  of 
the  volunteers  in  the  ranks  shot  back  at  them. 

The  pickets  could  be  seen  bolting  away  for  their  camp 
— with  mounted  skirmishers  dashing  in  pursuit  for  better 
shots. 

"  Shucks!  "  complained  Jim.  "  We  aren't  in  on  thv 
at  all.  Why  don't  we  charge?  " 

"  \Vhat'll  we  charge  at?  "  retorted  Ernest. 

More  ghostly  objects  were  disclosed — and  see,  there 
100 


GONZALES  KEEPS  ITS  SIX-POUNDER 


were  the  Mexicans,  at  last  :  a  crowd  of  ;spc£tff.  b 
grouped  on  a  little  rise. 

"  Give  it  to  'em,  boys  !  "  rose  tbe*sbm&.>  Ail 
'em  the  cannon!"     Rifles  uselessly  'cracked;  Jirri-ii'fteci 
his  —  but  another  cry   sped   hither-thither  :   "  No  !     No  ! 
Wait!" 

For  from  the  Mexicans  a  man  came  running,  with 
hand  lifted. 

He  was  William  Smithers,  of  Gonzales  and  Bejar  both  ; 
and  he  shouted  :  "  Don't  shoot,  boys  !  Don't  shoot  !  I've 
got  a  message  !  " 

Now  the  sun  abruptly  shattered  the  fog,  driving  it 
asunder.  Behind  Bill  Smithers  rode  out  Lieutenant 
Castaneda.  Colonel  Moore  advanced  to  meet  him. 

Lieutenant  Castaneda  asked  Colonel  Moore  why  the 
Mexican  soldiers  were  being  attacked  in  this  manner. 

Colonel  Moore  replied  that  the  Texans  had  been 
ordered  by  the  lieutenant  to  surrender  the  cannon  which 
had  been  loaned  them  for  their  own  defense  and  had  been 
told  that  if  they  didn't  surrender  it,  the  soldiers  were  com- 
ing to  take  it  ;  the  order  had  been  issued  by  direction  of 
the  Santa  Anna  government,  which  was  the  enemy  of 
the  constitution  and  therefore  was  the  enemy  of  Texas  ; 
so  Texas  was  determined  to  fight  instead  of  yielding. 

"  No,  senor,"  replied  the  lieutenant  —  who  was  a  very 
polite  young  man.  "  You  are  mistaken  when  you  class 
us  with  enemies  of  the  constitution.  I  am  a  republican, 
and  so  are  two-thirds  of  the  people  of  Mexico.  But  we 
are  good  Mexicans,  all,  and  I  am  an  officer  of  the  govern- 
ment. To  be  sure,  the  government  has  been  changed, 
with  the  approval  of  the  majority  of  the  Mexican  states, 
and  the  hope  is  that  Texas  also  will  accept  the  change.  I 
have  no  intention  to  oppose  the  brave  Anglo-Mexicans, 
with  arms.  My  instructions  are  simply  to  demand  the 
cannon  ;  and  if  it  is  not  delivered  to  me,  to  wait  for  further 
orders/' 

"  Well,  you  can't  wait  here,"  bluntly  answered  Colonel 
101 


WITHCSAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Moore.  ."J-f  you; don't  want  to  fight,  you  can  either  sur- 
render" with -your  troops,  or  else  join  us  as  a  republican 
and  patriot,  retaining  your  full  rank  and  pay  in  the  cause 
of  liberty.  Otherwise,  we'll  attack  you  immediately." 

"  Impossible,  sefior,"  gravely  answered  the  lieutenant. 
"  I  must  obey  orders." 

With  that  he  saluted,  and  galloped  back.  Colonel 
Moore  saluted,  and  he  galloped  back. 

"  It's  a  fight !  "  joyously  exclaimed  Jim ;  and  Ernest's 
throat  tightened. 

To  the  right,  out  of  range  of  volleys  from  his  own 
men,  scurried  Colonel  Moore  and  the  aides.  The  Mexican 
dragoons  were  hastily  reforming,  but  in  confusion;  and 
down  the  Texan  line  horse  and  foot  cheered  and  prepared 
their  pieces  and  implored  orders  to  charge. 

"  Drive  the  Mexicans  out  of  Texas,"  chorused  the 
shouts. 

"Hurrah  for  liberty!" 

"  No  Mexican  soldiers  in  Texas !  " 

"  Boom !  "  It  was  the  brass  six-pounder,  and  made 
Ernest  jump.  He  heard  the  scraps  of  ox  chain  whine 
through  the  air,  and  spatter  on  the  sod  and  brush.  The 
people  who  were  waiting  in  Gonzales,  seven  miles  away, 
asserted  that  they,  too,  had  heard  the  report  and  the 
whines,  and  that  it  was  the  most  fearsome  noise  imag- 
inable ! 

"That's  right!" 

"Now  we're  talkin'!" 

"  Hurrah  for  Texas  and  liberty !  " 

Again  the  cannon  boomed.  A  cloud  of  smoke  spread, 
as  bad  as  the  fog,  and  Ernest,  taken  by  surprise,  tried  in 
vain  to  aim,  as  they  advanced.  He  heard  Jim  muttering 
and  fuming.  Forward  dashed  the  cavalry  (he  and  Jim 
with  it),  in  a  charge;  the  infantry  broke  into  a  run, 
following. 

But  the  Mexican  dragoons  did  not  wait.  The  cannon 
had  been  enough.  As  soon  as  Ernest  and  his  troop 

102 


GONZALES  KEEPS  ITS  SIX-POUNDER 

emerged  from  the  smoke  they  saw  every  Mexican  spurring 
off,  pell  mell;  and  when  they  reached  the  little  rise  they 
found  only  blood  on  the  grass  and  brush,  several  wounded 
horses,  and  a  lot  of  baggage,  including  sacks  of  Ezekiel 
Williams's  water-melons. 

"  Let  'em  go,"  welled  the  cry ;  and  the  dragoons  sped 
unpursued. 

"  We  got  some  of  'em/  panted  Jim,  wildly  exultant. 
"  There  were  several  horses  carrying  double.  Looked  like 
one  fellow  was  killed.  Did  you  shoot  ?  "  he  demanded,  of 
Ernest. 

"  Naw,"  confessed  Ernest.  "  I  couldn't  see  to  shoot, 
in  all  that  smoke.  Did  you?  " 

"  Shucks,  no !  "  deplored  Jim.  "  I  had  good  aim,  all 
right,  but  the  blamed  gun  missed  on  me." 

After  collecting  the  abandoned  equipment,  and  taking 
the  horses  and  mules  that  did  not  have  to  be  put  out  of 
their  misery,  but  leaving  Ezekiel  Williams  his  water- 
melons, with  their  cannon  the  volunteers  rode  back  in 
triumph  to  Gonzales. 

Texas's  battle  of  Lexington  had  been  won. 


VII 

THE  MUSTERING  OF  THE  TROOPS 

So  Gonzales  kept  its  cannon,  Texas  had  gained  the 
first  battle  in  defense  of  liberty,  and  there  was  great  ex- 
citement in  the  town  and  in  Eli  Mitchell's  cornfield.  The 
men  cheered  and  sang  and  gamboled,  celebrating  their  easy 
victory.  Expresses  were  immediately  sent  galloping  to 
the  eastward,  bearing  the  news,  and  urging  the  colonists 
to  rally. 

As  soon  as  the  first  express  reached  San  Felipe,  the 
Central  Committee  of  Defense,  there,  of  which  Stephen 
Austin  was  chairman,  issued  a  stirring  appeal.  A  copy 
of  it  was  read  among  the  volunteers  at  Gonzales.  "  Now 
every  man  in  Texas  must  decide  for  himself  [it  said] 
whether  he  would  submit  to  the  destruction  of  his  rights 
and  liberties  by  the  Mexican  government.  If  he  will  not 
submit,  let  him  give  his  answer  by  the  mouth  of  his  rifle. 
The  citizens  of  Gonzales  have  been  attacked,  the  war  has 
begun.  Every  citizen  should  march  to  help  his  country- 
men in  the  field !  " 

Hurrah! 

More  volunteers  did  march  in.  They  were  assigned 
to  companies,  until  the  cornfield  was  alive  with  armed 
men.  Ernest  was  the  youngest  soldier  on  the  ground,  and 
he  was  immensely  pleased  to  find  himself  really  enrolled 
and  assigned  to  the  company  of  cavalry  commanded  by 
Lieutenant,  now  Captain,  Almeron  Dickinson.  That  was 
great!  Thereupon  Jim  loyally  asked  to  be  assigned  to 
the  same  company. 

"  Put  the  two  boys  together,"  gruffly  directed  Colonel 
Moore ;  and  when  Jim  came  back  with  the  news,  he  and 
Ernest  rapturously  hugged  one  another.  They  were 
"  bunkies,"  and  continued  to  spread  their  blankets  side 

104 


THE  MUSTERING  OF  THE  TROOPS 

by  side.  Tents  were  lacking,  but  a  Texan  minded  not  at 
all  sleeping  out  in  the  open. 

It  was  quite  a  reunion  of  Texas  people,  some  of  whom 
had  been  neighbors  back  in  the  United  States  but  of  late 
had  been  widely  separated;  while  others  never  had  met 
or  else  had  heard  each  other's  names  only  in  stories  of 
Indian  fights. 

Ernest  knew  a  few,  who  had  been  through  Gonzales ; 
but  Jim  knew  many  more,  for  he  had  lived  longer  there 
near  the  crossing  of  the  Colorado  River.  And  on  a  morn- 
ing soon  after  the  cannon  fight  he  uttered  a  glad  shout. 

"  Here's  Leo  Roark !  Bully !  "  And  leaving  Ernest, 
he  rushed  off. 

Another  body  of  recruits,  dusty  with  travel,  had  just 
come  in  amidst  cheers ;  and  running  forward,  Jim  reached 
up  and  warmly  shook  hands  with  a  rider  on  a  little  black 
horse :  a  boy,  as  Ernest  could  see,  about  Jim's  age.  They 
chatted  for  a  few  minutes — the  boy  sitting  his  pony  easily, 
a  shot-gun  lying  across  his  saddle.  Then  the  detachment 
moved  away,  to  make  camp ;  and  with  wave  of  hand,  and 
a  word,  and  a  flash  of  white  teeth  from  under  his  broad 
gray  hat,  the  boy  followed. 

Jim  strolled  back. 

"  That's  Leo  Roark,"  he  said.  "  From  Oyster  Creek 
down  at  the  lower  Brazos,  near  the  coast.  Ever  hear  of 
him?" 

"  Why,  sure,"  answered  Ernest.  "  He  was  in  that 
camp  that  was  cleaned  out  by  Indians,  wasn't  he  ?  West 
of  town,  about  five  years  ago?  The  time  old  man  Roark 
and  two  or  three  other  men  were  killed  ?  " 

"  That's  the  fellow,"  nodded  Jim.  "  He  was  on  guard, 
but  he  was  right  small.  He  savvied  by  the  way  the  mules 
acted  that  Injuns  were  'round;  and  before  he  could  get 
the  camp  on  its  feet  the  Injuns  had  killed  his  father  and 
the  other  man.  He'd  dropped  his  gun  to  cut  a  mule  rope, 
b_.t  he  had  to  drop  his  knife,  too,  and  dive  into  the  mes- 
quite.  He  travelled  clear  to  Bejar  alone,  chewing  mesquite 

105 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

berries  for  water;  and  didn't  get  back  home  for  three 
months.  That  was  Christmas  Eve,  1829,  when  he  was 
about  ten  years  old." 

"  He's  come  to  enlist,  has  he  ?  "  asked  Ernest. 

"  He's  already  enlisted.  That  whole  bunch  is  from  the 
lower  Brazos,  in  the  Bay  country.  More  are  on  the  way, 
too.  I'll  admire  to  make  you  acquainted  with  him.  He's 
lived  in  Texas  most  all  his  life — since  1824,  anyhow.  His 
folks  are  from  North  Carolina." 

Pretty  soon  Leo  sauntered  over  from  his  part  of  the 
field,  and  Ernest  was  introduced.  A  manly,  sturdy,  good- 
humored  boy  was  Leo ;  rather  quiet,  though,  as  might  be 
expected  in  a  boy  who  had  seen  his  father  murdered  by 
Indians,  and  had  had  to  turn  to,  after  that,  and  help  sup- 
port the  family.  He  wore  a  blue  flannel  shirt,  red  tie  and 
belted  trousers  thrust  into  boots ;  and  was  armed,  like 
Ernest,  with  his  knife  and  gun. 

"  We  came  as  fast  as  we  could/'  he  informed.  "  That's 
a  right  smart  ride — two  hundred  miles.  My  father  and 
I  used  to  take  a  couple  of  weeks  to  it,  when  we  were 
trading  into  Bejar.  How  long  have  you  lived  out  here?  " 

"  Three  years,"  proudly  answered  Ernest. 

"  Then  I  was  in  Gonzales  before  ever  you  saw  it," 
announced  Leo.  "  I  came  through  with  pap  the  first  time 
when  I  couldn't  reach  the  stirrups.  Legs  just  stuck  out 

this  way "  and  he  spread  his  thumb  and  finger.  "  I 

sure  wish  I'd  got  here  now  in  time  for  that  fight,"  he 
added.  "  But  there'll  be  another,  won't  there?  " 

"You  bet,"  assured  Jim.  "We're  going  to  take 
Bejar." 

"When?" 

"  Soon  as  the  consultation  at  San  Felipe  is  over,  and 
we  get  Austin  to  lead  us." 

"  Who's  your  leader  now?  " 

"  Colonel  John  H.  Moore." 

"  Well,  what's  the  matter  with  him,  then  ?  He's  some 
fighter,  I  reckoa  And  there  must  be  upward  of  two 

106 


THE  MUSTERING  OF  THE  TROOPS 

hundred  fifty  men  right  on  this  spot,  just  pinin'  for  a 
scrimmage." 

"  That's  what  I  say,"  vaunted  Ernest.  "  We  can  lick 
those  Mexicans  to  a  finish.  They  can't  fight.  They  run." 

"  I  don't  know,"  dubiously  said  Jim.  "  Ugartechea 
has  four  hundred  regulars  in  Bejar,  and  if  Cos  joins  him 
with  those  five  hundred  more  we  might  have  to  do  a  lot 
of  chewing  before  we  could  swallow." 

"  Shucks !  "  grunted  Leo.  "  Down  our  way  we  calcu- 
late one  Anglo-Texan  settler  can  lick  ten  Mexicanos. 
Look  at  what  we  did  in  '32  when  we  drove  out  the  Busta- 
mantists.  Anyhow,  seems  like  the  whole  country  is  arm- 
ing now.  We  passed  a  lot  of  people  on  the  road.  Fannin's 
'  Brazos  Company '  is  somewhere  behind  us." 

"  Who  are  they?  "  asked  Ernest. 

"  A  company  of  Brazos  people  who  organized  at  San 
Felipe,  I  hear  tell.  Jim  Fannin  is  their  captain.  He's 
from  Georgia  and  he's  been  in  Texas  only  a  year ;  but  he's 
all  man." 

"  Doesn't  take  long  to  make  a  Texan,"  asserted  Jim, 
much  to  Ernest's  satisfaction. 

The  "Brazos  Company,"  under  Captain  James  W. 
Fannin,  Jr.,  arrived.  Speedily,  indeed,  the  camp  and 
town  were  full  of  notables.  There  was  boyish  William 
Travis,  who  so  hated  Mexican  tyranny ;  and  Colonel  Pat 
Jack,  who  with  Travis  had  been  cast  into  a  Mexican 
dungeon,  at  Anahuac  in  1831 ;  and  Henry  Karnes,  a  trap- 
per from  Arkansas,  whose  hair  was  so  red  that  the  Apache 
Indians  thought  it  was  his  "  medicine  "  charm,  and  let  him 
go  after  they  had  captured  him;  and  Colonel  Edward 
Burleson,  who  had  served  under  General  Andrew  Jackson, 
along  with  Sam  Houston,  against  the  Creek  Indians,  in 
Alabama ;  and  Dr.  James  Grant,  a  Scotchman  who  owned 
a  great  estate  in  Coahuila ;  and  Captain  Jesse  Burnam,  of 
Burnam's  Crossing ;  and  Colonel  Branch  T.  Archer,  who 
had  been  an  Aaron  Burr  conspirator  and  had  fled  from 
Virginia  on  account-  of  a  duel;  and  Rezin  Bowie,  Jim 

107 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Bowie's  brother — the  real  inventor  of  the  Bowie  knife 
and  as  good  a  man  as  Colonel  Jim.  Colonel  Jim  was  in 
Be  jar,  'twas  said,  with  his  wife;  but  he  could  be  counted 
on. 

"  I  reckon  Ben  Milam  wishes  he  was  here,  too,  instead 
of  in  prison  at  Monterey/'  quoth  Ernest ;  and  his  compan- 
ions gravely  nodded. 

Meanwhile  scouts  were  out  and  sentries  were  posted, 
for  Colonel  Ugartechea,  in  command  of  the  Mexican  post 
at  San  Antonio,  would  not  long  be  idle  after  the  defeated 
Lieutenant  Castaneda  reported  to  him;  and  General  Cos 
was  marching  westward  from  the  coast  to  reinforce  him. 
The  camp  was  full  of  rumors  and  alarms. 

At  midnight  Ernest,  turning  over  in  his  blanket, 
drowsily  heard  the  beat  of  galloping  hoofs,  out  of  Gon- 
zales  and  down  the  road  to  San  Felipe.  He  thought 
nothing  especial  of  it,  but  in  the  morning  the  camp  soon 
was  astir  with  renewed  excitement,  and  Jim  and  Leo 
brought  the  word. 

"  Did  you  hear  that  express,  last  night?  Ugartechea's 
coming !  " 

"  How  do  you  know  ?    When  ?  " 

"  Reckon  he's  started  already,"  declared  Leo.  "  They 
got  a  message  from  him  late  last  evening  at  headquarters, 
addressed  to  Austin.  Dated  the  fourth.  He  said  he  was 
marching  the  next  day,  which  was  day  before  yesterday, 
for  Gonzales,  with  a  complete  force;  and  if  we  met  him 
and  delivered  the  cannon  he'd  take  it  and  go  back ;  but  if 
we  didn't  be  so  accommodating  then  the  nation  of  Mexico 
would  consider  itself  insulted  and  at  war  with  the  Texas 
colonists." 

"  We  aren't  going  to  do  it,  are  we  ?  "  demanded  Ernest. 

Jim  and  Leo  laughed. 

"  Hardly,  my  lad,"  said  Jim,  grandly.  "  What  do  you 
think  we're  made  of?  Colonel  Moore  sent  the  message 
on  to  San  Felipe,  with  a  right  smart  note  to  Colonel 
Austin,  asking  him  to  hurry  along  with  more  men,  and 

108 


THE  MUSTERING  OF  THE  TROOPS 

while  we  waited  we'd  entertain  Ugartechea  and  Cos,  too, 
if  he  came.  We'd  hold  'em  off  some  way." 

"If  Cos  and  Ugartechea  don't  come  to  us  we'll  go  to 
them,"  added  Leo.  "  We  Brazos  people  enlisted  to  take 
Be  jar  and  drive  the  Mexicans  across  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  they  belong.  We  won't  sit  'round  here  very  much 
doing  nothing.  We  want  to  finish  this  war  and  go  home." 

The  day  proved  to  be  a  disturbing  one.  More  scouts 
were  ordered  out,  westward,  to  spy  on  the  enemy's  ad- 
vance; rifles  and  pistols  were  cleaned,  the  six-pounder 
brass  cannon  was  placed  in  a  better  position  ("  so 
Ugartechea  and  Cos  can  find  it  easy!  "  laughed  the  men), 
and  a  general  council  of  war  was  convened,  at  the  Colonel 
Moore  headquarters,  to  discuss  matters.  Colonel  Moore 
was  elected  commander  of  the  whole  camp,  until  a  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  Texas  army  was  chosen. 

Expresses  continued  to  arrive,  with  dispatches  and 
tidings  from  the  east. 

"  Suppose  you've  heard  the  latest  about  Sam  Houston, 
boy  ?  "  hailed  Dick  Carroll,  passing  where  Ernest  was 
sharpening  his  knife  on  his  boot-leg. 

"  Is  he  coming  ?     Where  is  he  ?  " 

"  Oh,  he'll  come,  when  he's  needed.  But  just  now 
he's  still  down  at  San  Augustine  and  Nacogdoches.  He's 
been  elected  commander-in-chief  of  all  Eastern  Texas,  and 
the  Redlanders  [these,  as  Ernest  knew,  were  the  settlers 
in  the  Red  River  country,  on  the  Texas  northeastern  bor- 
der] are  flocking  to  him  by  hundreds." 

"  Good  for  the  Redlanders !  "  cried  Ernest.  This  news 
from  Sam  Houston  certainly  sounded  like  business. 
"  What'll  we  do  ?  March  to  Bejar  and  clean  the  Mexicans 
out  of  Texas  ?  " 

"Go  slow,"  cautioned  Dick.  "You're  just  like  all 
these  other  fellows ;  spoiling  for  a  fracas.  Want  to  eat 
the  Mexicans  at  a  bite  and  go  back  home  to  their  folks 
and  crops.  We've  less'n  three  hundred  men,  and  Bejar 
isn't  the  only  post  we've  got  to  tackle.  There's  Victoria, 

100 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

and  Goliad,  south,  on  our  flank — and  I  understand  a  hun- 
dred men  are  to  be  sent  off  against  those  places.  As  I 
calkilate,  we  gain  by  waiting  a  bit,  and  like  as  not  some  of 
those  Mexicans  who  can't  stomach  any  dictator  business 
will  help  us.  De  Zavala's  come  in  to  San  Felipe  already, 
and  offered  himself  to  Austin." 

"  Who !    Lorenzo  de  Zavala,  Dick  ?  " 

"That's  right.  He's  thrown  in  with  Texas,  for  lib- 
erty and  the  constitution  of  '24;  and  he  was  governor  of 
the  State  of  Mexico,  too — until  Santa  Anna  chased  him 
out  and  put  a  price  on  his  head.  That  means  we'll  prob- 
ably get  a  lot  of  Mexican  patriots,  as  soon  as  the>  under- 
stand we're  fighting  for  state  freedom.  But  this  camp's 
so  cocky,  doesn't  seem  like  it'll  wait  for  Austin  or  Houston 
or  reinforcements  or  anything." 

"  What  man  do  you  want  for  commander-in-chief, 
Dick  ?  "  queried  Ernest. 

"  Houston,"  promptly  answered  Dick.  "  Sam 
Houston.  Didn't  I  go  clear  up  north  to  find  him,  for 
Texas  ?  But  I  don't  reckon  he'll  be  elected.  They're  moit 
all  West  Texas  men  hyar,  yet,  and  he's  of  East  Texas. 
How  about  it,  Henry  ?  "  and  he  hailed  Henry  Karnes,  the 
red-headed  Arkansas  trapper  and  Apache  "  big  medicine," 
who  on  moccasinned  feet  was  striding  by.  "  Do  you 
figger  we  can  elect  Sam  Houston  ?  " 

Henry  Karnes  scratched  his  fiery  thatch. 

"  Wall,"  he  drawled,  "  if  he  was  on  the  spot  he  might 
be  elected.  Or  if  we-all  were  thar  he  might  be  elected. 
But  he's  away  out  yonder,  recruitin'  the  Redlanders.  I 
think  a  heap  of  Houston,  myself,  but  I  reckon  Austin 
stands  a  better  show.  Everybody  knows  Austin.  He's 
got  some  folks,  though,  that  hold  he's  too  sort  of  mild, 
for  a  fightin'  man.  Fact  is,  I  don't  see  how  anybody 
can  be  elected;  this  hyar  camp's  so  split  up,  with  every 
company  shoutin'  for  its  own  separate  candidate." 

And  that  was  true.  The  election  had  been  ordered  for 
to-morrow,  and  the  camp  and  the  town  were  in  a  perfect 

110 


THE  MUSTERING  OF  THE  TROOPS 

buzz  of  electioneering.  Texas  was  so  large,  and  the  settle- 
ments were  so  widely  divided  off,  that  each  locality  formed 
a  clan,  eager  to  have  a  man  from  among  themselves  as  the 
leader. 

On  this  day  no  volunteers  under  Captain  Allen  and 
Captain  Benjamin  Fort  Smith  were  detached  to  march 
south  and  seize  Victoria  and  Goliad,  so  as  to  cut  off  the 
Mexicans'  line  of  communication  with  the  Gulf.  Now 
there  were  not  enough  men  left  at  Gonzales  to  capture 
San  Antonio,  and  if  Colonel  Ugartechea  and  his  Mexican 
regulars  arrived,  for  that  cannon,  before  reinforcements 
came  in,  Colonel  Moore's  riflemen  certainly  would  have 
their  hands  full. 

However,  amidst  the  wild  rumors,  scouts  brought  word 
that  Ugartechea  had  not  yet  marched  out  of  the  Alamo 
mission  of  Bejar,  but  that  General  Cos  was  nearing  Bejar 
with  his  500  soldiers.  Something  therefore  must  be  done 
soon. 

Ernest  was  a  strong  Sam  Houston  "  man."  But  when 
he  tried  a  little  electioneering,  himself,  for  his  candidate, 
he  found,  as  Trapper  Karnes  had  said,  that  the  camp  was 
all  "  split  up."  He  could  not  swing  even  Leo  and  Jim. 

"Aw,  who's  Sam  Houston?"  opposed  Leo.  "He 
may  be  a  right  smart  of  a  man,  but  we've  got  a  lot  as 
good  one's  who've  been  in  Texas  longer  than  he  has.  We 
Lower  Brazos  fellows  aren't  going  to  vote  for  anybody 
we  don't  know.  We've  got  a  man  of  our  own." 

"  Didn't  you  ever  see  Sam  Houston  ?  "  asked  Ernest. 

"  Naw,  I  never  did.  I  hear  tell  he's  a  politician  who's 
come  into  East  Texas  hoping  to  get  something.  Did  you 
ever  see  him  ?  " 

"I  should  say  I  did!"  defended  Ernest,  hotly.  "I 
saw  him  up  at  Fort  Gibson  before  ever  he  came  into  Texas, 
and  I've  seen  him  at  Gonzales,  too.  He's  the  finest,  kind- 
est man  anybody  ever  met.  He's  a  friend  of  President 
Jackson's,  and  a  friend  of  Texas — and  didn't  Texas  send 
for  him,  and  hasn't  he  been  at  the  head  of  things  around 

111 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Nacogdoches,  and  taken  part  in  the  conventions,  and 
haven't  they  elected  him  their  commander-in-chief 
already?" 

"Shucks!"  scoffed  Leo.  "We  don't  care  what 
they're  doing  up  'round  Nacogdoches.  We've  got  a 
leader  picked  out  that  we  know  and  can  depend  on.  He's 
from  down  our  way." 

"  But  Houston's  been  in  the  United  States  army,  and 
he's  lived  with  the  Indians,  and  he's  not  afraid  of  any- 
thing," argued  Ernest.  "  He  can  fight  the  way  the  white 
men  fight  and  he  can  fight  the  way  the  Indians  fight ;  and 
if  he  was  commander  then  maybe  all  the  Cherokees  and 
Comanches  would  join  us." 

But  Leo  was  unconvinced.  So  was  Jim;  and  more- 
over, Jim  didn't  seem  even  to  favor  Austin,  especially, 
although  he  knew  Stephen  Austin  well. 

"  Austin  would  do  toler'bly,  I  reckon,"  agreed  Jim. 
"  But  we  settlers  on  the  Colorado  have  a  Colorado  man 
we  want.  What's  the  use  in  looking  to  the  Brazos  or 
clear  to  East  Texas  for  a  commander,  when  right  here  in 
camp  we've  one  of  the  best  fighters  in  Texas,  who's  lived 
on  the  Colorado,  and  knows  the  whole  country  and  all  the 
men,  from  the  Colorado  to  the  Rio  Grande  ?  " 

"  But  if  everybody  wants  a  different  man,  how's  any- 
body to  be  elected  ?  "  demanded  Ernest.  And  suddenly, 
interrupting  himself,  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  pointing. 
"  Look !  "  he  cried.  "  Here's  a  big  bunch  of  more  volun- 
teers coming ;  a  regular  company !  Hooray !  " 

"  Hooray !  "  cheered  Jim  and  Leo ;  and  from  Gonzales 
and  from  the  cornfield  resounded  other  cheers,  as  men 
flourished  their  hats  and  rifles,  welcoming  the  new  arrivals. 

"  They've  got  a  flag !    See  it  ?  " 

"  A  new  tri-color — red,  white  and  blue,  with  a  star 
on  it!" 

"  It's  the  Lone  Star,  boys !  The  Star  of  Texas  and 
Liberty !  Three  cheers !  " 

In  real  military  order,  horse  and  foot,  the  company 

112 


THE  MUSTERING  OF  THE  TROOPS 

of  reinforcements  marched  up  the  road.  Three  riders 
led ;  and  the  rider  at  the  left  bore,  on  a  lance  at  his  saddle^ 
bow,  a  square  pennant  divided  into  three  sections — blue, 
white  and  red.  The  blue  was  a  broad  band  running  up 
and  down,  next  to  the  pole ;  the  white  and  the  red  made 
two  bands  extending  the  other  way,  from  the  blue  to  the 
end.  In  the  middle  of  the  blue  band  was  a  single  large 
white  star,  five-pointed. 

It  was  a  gay  and  beautiful  flag;  and  the  company 
under  it  marched  proudly  on,  to  report.  Speedily  the  word 
spread  that  this  was  a  company  clear  from  Harrisburg 
on  Buffalo  Bayou  of  the  Galveston  Bay  section.  Andrew 
Robinson  was  captain  ;  A.  B.  Dodson  was  first  lieutenant ; 
Jim  Ferguson  was  second  lieutenant.  The  flag  had  been 
made  by  Lieutenant  Dodson's  bride,  who  had  been  Miss 
Sarah  Rudolph  Bradley  (Leo  said  that  he  knew  her),  out 
of  calico,  and  had  been  presented  by  her  to  the  company. 
Lieutenant  Ferguson  was  the  man  carrying  it.  He  and 
the  others  explained  that  the  three  colors  combined  the 
tri-color  idea  of  Mexico  (whose  flag  was  red,  white  and 
green)  with  the  American  red,  white  and  blue;  and  that 
the  star  was  Texas,  rising  for  liberty  in  Mexico. 

The  company  brought  copies  of  several  circulars  that 
had  been  distributed  throughout  East  and  Southeast 
Texas,  urging  the  settlers  to  arm  and  hasten  to  Gonzales ; 
every  circular  had  the  right  ring  to  it:  "  Take  Bejar  and 
drive  the  Mexican  soldiery  out  of  Texas,"  was  the  slogan. 
They  brought  word  also  that  Sam  Houston  was  being 
depended  upon  to  raise  volunteers  in  the  United  States, 
to  help  Texas ;  and  that  a  general  consultation  of  defense 
was  still  in  session  at  San  Felipe,  and  that  Stephen  Austin 
was  anxious  to  get  away  from  there  and  likely  enough  was 
already  on  the  road. 

The  flag  was  much  admired ;  but  by  the  next  morning 
it  was  forgotten.  The  election  of  commander-in-chief  of 
the  Texan  army  was  ordered  for  four  o'clock  this  after- 
noon of  October  n,  and  there  were  as  many  candidates 

113 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

as  companies !     Matters  seemed  all  mixed  up,  until,  for- 
tunately, at  noon  Austin  came  riding  in. 

This  settled  the  quarrels  and  disputes.  The  sight  of 
Stephen  Austin,  here  at  last,  and  the  recollection  of  how 
he  had  toiled  for  Texas,  won  everybody.  His  name  was 
proposed  to  company  after  company  and  received  with 
cheers ;  and  although  he  said  that  he  did  not  want  the  posi- 
tion— he  did  not  feel  strong  enough,  after  his  imprison- 
ment in  Mexico — he  accepted,  as  his  duty,  if  the  army 
would  be  satisfied  with  no  one  else. 

Accordingly,  after  the  election  at  four  o'clock,  Peter 
Grayson,  the  president  of  the  board  of  war,  informed  him 
that  he  had  been  unanimously  elected  commander-in-chief 
of  the  Texan  army. 

"  Don't  you  think  he'll  be  a  good  one,  Dick  ?  "  anxiously 
queried  Ernest,  seeking  his  trusty  oracle. 

"Well,"  replied  Dick,  as  if  weighing  the  pros  and 
cons,  "  we  all  love  Austin — just  natur'ly  love  him.  But 
he's  not  a  military  man,  and  to  me  he  looks  powerful  pale 
and  weak.  When  we  really  get  ag'in  a  hard  campaign 
with  the  Mexican  regulars,  my  opinion  is  that  Austin 
would  do  better  organizing  finances  and  supplies  and  keep- 
ing things  moving  at  that  end,  which  is  more  his  training, 
while  an  Old  Hickory  sort  of  a  man  like  Sam  Houston 
takes  the  field.  We  Texans  are  a  hard  people  to  manage, 
anyhow.  We're  so  tarnation  independent." 

Dick's  words  were  encouraging,  nevertheless.  And  so 
were  Leo's. 

"  Yes,  I  voted  for  Austin,"  he  said.  "  We'll  follow 
Austin.  But  if  he  hadn't  accepted,  and  if  we-all  didn't 
get  our  own  man  in,  some  of  our  fellows  would  have  gone 
home." 

"  Would  you  have  gone  back  home  ? "  demanded 
Ernest. 

Leo  opened  his  eyes  wide. 

"Who?  Me?  I  should  say  not!  I'm  here  to  stick 
till  we  take  Bejar." 

114 


THE  MUSTERING  OF  THE  TROOPS 

"  So  am  I,"  asserted  Jim,  quietly.  "  I  want  to  see  this 
fracas  through." 

Whereupon  they  three  agreed  to  "  stick,"  together, 
and  "  see  the  fracas  through,"  for  the  sake  of  the  cause  and 
not  the  sake  of  any  particular  leader.  Still,  Ernest  did 
not  give  up  the  hope  that  he,  at  least,  might  some  day 
follow  Sam  Houston. 

As  he  was  turning  in  under  his  blanket,  for  sleep,  he 
was  set  almost  wide  awake  by  a  joyous  shout  from  Jim, 
who  had  been  "  visiting." 

"  Shake  up  your  priming  and  stow  away  your  corn- 
bread,  boy,"  jubilated  Jim.  "  We  bust  camp  to-morrow 
and  march  straight  for  Bejar." 

"Who  said  so?" 

"  General  Austin.  I  got  it  from  a  man  who  got  it 
from  another  man  who  got  it  at  headquarters.  The  con- 
sultation at  San  Felipe's  going  to  quit  until  November  i, 
so  all  the  delegates  can  join  the  army;  Austin's  promised 
that  if  they  do  he'll  take  Bejar  in  three  days;  and  he's 
sent  another  express  to  Sam  Houston  and  the  Redlanders 
to  hurry  along,  pronto  [fast],  'cause  they'll  be  needed  in 
the  fight." 


VIII 
THE  MARCH  ON  SAN  ANTONIO 

ERNEST  awakened  with  the  sensation  that  this  was  to 
be  a  day  of  action.  When  once  the  army  moved  forward, 
no  one  could  tell  what  might  not  happen.  All  the  men 
were  astir  early,  preparing  for  the  march :  viewing  their 
horses,  freshening  the  priming  of  their  guns,  and  putting 
last  repairs  on  footgear  and  saddles  and  bridles. 

But  after  breakfast,  the  first  thing  done  was  the  elec- 
tion of  field  officers.  This  passed  off  without  any  trouble 
whatever.  When  the  army  was  paraded,  to  hear  the 
announcement  that  Colonel  John  Moore  had  been  re- 
elected  colonel,  Edward  Burleson  (another  sturdy  fighter) 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  Alexander  Somervell  major, 
General  Austin  made  a  short  speech.  Sitting  his  horse, 
slim  and  erect  in  close-fitting  suit  of  plain  brown  buckskin, 
he  spoke  bare-headed. 

He  did  indeed  look  weak  and  pale,  but  his  voice  carried 
well,  and  what  he  said  was  received  with  cheers. 

"  It  is  the  cause  of  the  Constitution  and  of  freedom 
[he  declared],  the  cause  of  each  man  individually  and  of 
Texas  collectively.  Our  prospects  and  happiness  will  de- 
pend in  a  great  measure  on  the  issue  of  this  campaign; 
everyone  feels  its  importance,  and  it  is  unnecessary  to 
appeal  to  the  patriotism  of  the  army,  but  the  commander- 
in-chief  deems  it  his  duty  to  remind  each  citizen-soldier 
that  patriotism  and  firmness  will  avail  but  little  without 
discipline  and  a  strict  obedience  to  orders.  The  first 
duty  of  a  soldier  is  obedience." 

"  Oh,  we'll  sure  be  obedient,"  quoth  Jim  Hill,  to 
Ernest.  "  If  he'll  tell  us  where  to  go,  we'll  go/' 

The  parade  was  dismissed ;  but  scarcely  had  the  com- 
panies been  marched  to  their  quarters,  and  the  horses 
of  the  cavalry  been  tethered  along  the  picket  ropes,  to 

116 


THE  MARCH  ON  SAN  ANTONIO 

wait,  saddled  and  bridled,  when  another  wave  of  excite- 
ment flowed  through  the  camp. 

"  Goliad's  been  captured !    We've  taken  Goliad !  " 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

"  An  express  just  came  in,  from  there." 

"  Who  took  it  ?     Smith  and  Allen  ?  " 

"  No ;  they  didn't  get  there  in  time.  George  Collings- 
worth  and  about  forty  of  the  Caney  and  Matagorda  men, 
from  the  Gulf  coast,  attacked  it  on  the  night  of  the  ninth, 
broke  into  the  commandant's  quarters  with  axes,  seized 
him  and  the  other  officers,  killed  one  Mexican  and  wounded 
three  others,  corralled  all  the  supplies,  captured  twenty- 
five  of  the  garrison,  and  had  only  one  man  wounded, 
themselves !  And  whom  do  you  think  they  picked  up,  on 
the  way  ?  Ben  Milam !  " 

"What!  Old  Ben?  Thought  he  was  in  prison  at 
Monterey  ?  " 

"  So  he  was,  but  he  didn't  stay.  Bribed  his  jailor, 
got  hold  of  a  horse,  and  lit  out.  Travelled  by  night  and 
by  day,  for  six  hundred  miles,  into  Southeast  Texas,  aim- 
ing for  the  Gulf.  On  their  way  to  Goliad  the  boys  found 
him  in  the  brush,  and  he  went  along  in  with  'em.  Now 
he's  on  his  way  here  to  join  the  army.  Fetching  some 
prisoners,  too." 

All  this  was  good  news.  Everybody  liked  and  respected 
Colonel  Ben  Milam,  and  rejoiced  that  he  would  be  on 
hand  to  help.  The  taking  of  Goliad  had  cut  the  route  by 
which  Mexico  might  wish  to  march  more  troops  inland 
from  the  coast.  And  the  supplies  and  arms  taken  were 
much  needed. 

"  Hurray  for  old  Ben  Milam !  And  hurray  for  Col- 
lingsworth!  Did  they  get  many  supplies  and  guns,  I 
wonder?  " 

"  You  bet.  A  brass  six-pounder,  about  three  hundred 
muskets,  and  a  lot  of  ammunition  and  stuff." 

"  Those  are  what  we  need." 

"  Yes,  sir !  And  we  need  Goliad  as  bad.  That  stops 
117 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Mexico  from  sending  any  more  troops  to  Bejar  from  the 
east.  We've  a  line  of  Texans  across  that  trail." 

Expresses  were  immediately  hastened,  with  the  news — 
one  also  with  orders  to  Captain  Collingsworth  to  hold 
Goliad,  and  to  Captains  Allen  and  Benjamin  Fort  Smith 
to  return  from  there  at  once,  bringing  all  the  extra  arms 
and  supplies. 

About  noon  Colonel  Ben  Milam  rode  gallantly  into 
camp,  at  the  head  of  a  little  squad  conducting  the  three 
Mexican  officers  captured  at  Goliad — a  lieutenant-colonel, 
a  captain  and  an  ensign.  Having  reported  to  head- 
quarters, Colonel  Milam  was  given  a  great  welcome  when 
he  appeared  on  the  field.  But  he  brought  little  news  from 
Mexico  itself. 

"  You  know  a  fellow  in  a  Mexican  prison  doesn't  get 
much  chance  to  learn  what's  going  on,  boys,"  he  said. 
"  And  since  I've  been  out  I've  hurried  too  fast  to  pick  up 
any  news  especial." 

"  Where  was  Santa  Anna?  " 

"  Yonder,  at  the  capital,  I  reckon.  I  didn't  stay  to 
bid  him  good-by.  Fact  is,  I  didn't  pass  his  way." 

"  How  do  they  feel  about  him,  in  Mexico,  do  you 
think?" 

"  He's  in  the  saddle ;  that's  generally  recognized.  But 
everything  he  does,  he  does  through  the  vice-president 
that  he's  appointed — Don  Miguel  Barrigan,  a  sort  of  presi- 
dent pro  tern.,  or  acting  president.  Santa  Anna  pulls  the 
strings." 

"  Anything  left  of  the  Constitution  of  1824,  and  State 
rights?" 

"  I  told  you,  boys,  that  I  was  in  too  much  of  a  hurry 
to  talk  politics.  But  I  reckon  you've  heard  of  the  Decree 
of  October  Third,  which  Barrigan  issued  for  Santa  Anna? 
I  learned  about  it  from  a  paisano  [country-man]  just  as 
I  was  crossing  into  Texas.  All  the  state  legislatures  are 
dissolved,  and  all  state  officers  must  be  approved  by  the 
Supreme  General  Government.  There'll  be  no  more  elec- 

118 


THE  MARCH  ON  SAN  ANTONIG 

tions  by  the  people.  We  don't  have  any  voice  in  the 
management  of  affairs,  and  the  famous  Constitution  of  '24 
looks  to  me  as  if  it  were  wadded  up  in  a  ball  and  tossed 
aside." 

"  Won't  there  be  a  revolution,  yonder,  to  help  in  this 
fight  Texas  is  making?  " 

Colonel  Milam  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Quien  sabe?  [Who  knows  ?]  "  he  said.  "  But  in  my 
humble  opinion  Santa  Anna  has  all  those  Mexican  states 
snubbed  fast — they're  afraid  of  him ;  and  Texas'll  have 
to  depend  on  the  United  States  for  help.  Of  course, 
boys,"  he  added,  apologetically,  "  I've  been  at  large  too 
short  a  time  to  sabe  much,  myself  ;  but  it  seems  to  me  our 
own  blood  in  the  United  States  won't  stand  by  and  see  us 
lose  either  our  liberties  or  our  lands.  These  natives  are 
used  to  that  sort  of  thing;  but  we  Anglo-Saxons  aren't." 

"Well,"  spoke  somebody,  "there's  Sam  Houston. 
Maybe  when  it  comes  down  to  a  regular  war,  he'll  get 
President  Andy  Jackson  to  send  United  States  troops 
across  the  Red  River  and  take  us  under  his  wing.  We'd 
be  a  heap  better  off  under  the  American  flag  than  under 
the  Mexican." 

The  three  captured  Mexican  officers  were  started  for 
San  Felipe — where  they  later  were  released  upon  promis- 
ing not  to  take  up  arms  again  in  opposition  to  the  privileges 
of  the  Constitution  of  '24.  And  this  afternoon  the  little 
army  moved  by  ford  and  ferry  to  the  west  side  of  the 
Guadalupe.  Here  they  camped. 

"  Aw,  ginger ! "  complained  Jim,  to  Ernest,  at  the 
orders  to  unsaddle.  "  Why  don't  we  go  ahead  to  San 
Anton '  ?  These  nights  are  getting  right  chill,  and  my 
blanket's  toler'ble  thin  and  wearing  thinner.  'Most  of  us 
fellows  came  in  a  hurry,  to  fight  and  get  back  again. 
We  didn't  fetch  any  saddle-bags,  expecting  to  camp !  " 

"  We  couldn't  take  Be  jar  with  only  two  hundred  men, 
could  we  ?  "  reminded  Ernest. 

"  We  could  keep  warm  trying,  anyhow,"  grumbled  Jim. 
119 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

The  discontent  over  the  delay  did  not  last  long.  Any- 
body could  understand  that  to  meet  the  trained  Mexican 
soldiers  in  a  place  of  their  own  choosing  was  not  like  a 
skirmish  or  a  surprise;  and  that  it  was  better  to  be  slow 
than  be  sorry.  Even  Leo,  who  was  more  stubborn  than 
Jim,  finally  admitted  that  perhaps  they  couldn't  fight 
Mexican  soldiers  as  they'd  fight  Indians. 

General  Austin  emphasized  this  in  an  address  that  he 
made,  at  inspection  on  the  second  day  after  the  Guadalupe 
was  crossed.  He  told  the  troops  that  he  had  drawn  up 
a  set  of  regulations  for  the  Texas  army;  and  so  much 
depended  upon  this  campaign  against  Bejar  that  it  would 
be  necessary  that  these  regulations  be  closely  obeyed,  for 
the  sake  of  good  order  and  discipline.  Otherwise,  with 
every  man  acting  as  he  pleased,  there  would  be  only  dis- 
order and  confusion. 

After  the  address  the  troops  passed  in  review,  the 
flag  brought  by  the  Harrisburg  company  floating  gaily. 
Already  the  camp  duties  and  guard-mountings  under  arms 
had  had  a  good  effect,  for  the  different  companies,  both 
cavalry  and  infantry,  marched  in  lines  like  veterans. 

The  regulations,  posted  in  front  of  each  company  head- 
quarters, covered  every  phase  of  army  life  so  well  that  now 
anybody  could  see  how  badly  needed  they  were. 

The  next  day  camp  was  broken.  Colonel  Milam  and 
a  company  of  scouts  were  sent  ahead  to  spy  upon  the 
movements  around  San  Antonio;  and  the  army  followed 
in  military  formation  at  last,  with  front  and  rear  guards, 
and  skirmishers  out  on  the  flanks. 

"  We  sure  aren't  pretty,  but  we're  awful  tough  to 
chew/'  commented  Jim,  glancing  back  from  where,  beside 
Ernest,  he  rode  in  the  Dickinson  column  of  cavalry. 

And,  indeed,  this  first  Texan  army  did  not  pretend 
to  be  pretty.  The  men  were  in  their  plain  citizen-settler 
clothes — flannel  shirts  and  calico  shirts  and  buckskin 
shirts  ;  trousers  of  buckskin  and  of  homespun  cloth ;  foot- 
gear of  moccasins,  boots  and  ragged  shoes ;  headgear  of 

120 


THE  MAKCH  ON  SAN  ANTONIO 

caps  from  coonskins,  foxskins  and  other  pelts,  and  of 
broad-brimmed  hats,  black,  gray,  and  beaver  brown. 
Long-barrelled  muzzle-loading  rifles,  muskets,  shot-guns, 
and  Mississippi  yagers  (that  kicked  tremendously), 
dragoon  pistols  and  hunting-knives  were  the  arms;  and 
some  of  the  men  were  not  armed  at  all.  The  brass  six- 
pounder  from  Gonzales  was  hauled  by  a  yoke  of  oxen ;  a 
few  provisions  were  packed  on  mules.  General  Austin, 
accompanied  by  Colonel  Moore,  Adjutant  Warren  Hall, 
Judge-Advocate  William  Wharton,  and  others  of  his  staff, 
led. 

At  Cibolo  Creek,  where  camp  was  made  until  Captains 
Allen  and  Benjamin  Fort  Smith  should  arrive  with  their 
men  from  Goliad  and  Victoria,  who  should  appear  but 
Don  Placido  Benavides,  the  alcalde  of  Victoria,  with  thirty 
Mexican  ranchers.  They  had  come  to  join  with  their 
fellow  Texans  in  the  fight  for  liberty.  This  pleased 
General  Austin  and  all  the  army.  Don  Placido  declared 
that  he  received  circulars  inviting  him  and  the  other 
Mexicans  to  enlist  with  Texas,  and  approved  of  them; 
and  he  believed  that  a  great  many  other  native  people  also 
would  rise  for  the  constitution  and  state  rights. 

Colonel  Milam's  spy  company  sighted  1000  Mexican 
cavalry  only  ten  miles  from  the  camp,  and  sent  in  word 
to  the  general  to  be  prepared  for  an  attack.  Leo,  who 
with  two  other  men  had  been  out  on  a  scout  under 
Lieutenant  Bull,  returned  in  high  feather  and  Jim  and 
Ernest  were  fairly  envious  at  his  tale. 

"  We  made  'em  leg  it — you  ought  to've  seen  'em  leg 
it !  "  jubilated  Leo.  "  Ten  of  'em,  only  three  miles  from 
this  camp.  The  lieutenant  'lowed  'em  to  think  they 
were  chasing  us  back,  till  they  were  in  about  five  rods  of 
us,  and  then  we  turned  to  let  'em  have  it,  and  you  ought 
to've  seen  'em  leg  it.  They  legged  it  so  smart  they  didn't 
take  time  to  aim,  and  shot  by  pointing  their  guns  over  their 
shoulders.  We  chased  'em  two  miles  and  then  we  quit." 

"  If  four  Texans  can  lick  ten  Mexican  regulars  that 

121 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

easy,"  quoth  Jim,  scornfully,  "  I  rather  guess  we  won't 
have  much  trouble  cleaning  out  Bejar." 

"  Maybe  we  won't  have  to  clean  it  out,"  proposed  Jim. 
"  Did  you  know  we've  sent  a  message  by  a  paisano  to  Cos, 
asking  whether  he'll  respect  a  flag  of  truce  for  a  parley  ?  " 

"  Who  wants  to  parley  ? "  demanded  Leo,  hotly. 
"What  about?" 

"  There  was  a  council  of  war  at  headquarters,  anyway," 
pursued  Jim.  "  I  got  that  straight.  And  the  council 
decided  we  ought  to  try  to  make  it  clear  to  Cos  just  why 
Texas  is  righting.  When  he  understands  that  all  we're 
after  is  our  rights  under  the  republic  he  might  agree  to 
quit  with  us  till  we  could  treat  with  Santa  Anna.  I  reckon 
General  Austin'd  rather  save  Texas  by  peace  than  by  war, 
of  course.  It'd  mean  a  lot  of  lives." 

"  Suppose  so,"  admitted  Leo.  "  The  men  here  in  this 
very  camp  are  the  best  crop  in  Texas,  so  far.  All  right ; 
let  'em  parley,  if  they  can.  We'll  be  getting  reinforce- 
ments all  the  time,  anyway.  Ugartechea  might  agree  to  a 
talk — he's  white,  for  a  Mexican — but  Cos  never  will. 
You'll  see." 

And  General  Cos  didn't.  He  sent  back  word  that  he 
would  respect  no  flag  of  truce  from  "  rebels."  This  reply 
was  worth  a  hundred  men,  it  made  the  little  army  so 
indignant  and  determined. 

Captains  Allen  and  Benjamin  Fort  Smith  marched  into 
camp  with  their  detachment  from  Victoria  and  Goliad 
way,  and  with  the  supplies  and  munitions  captured  by 
Captain  Collingsworth  at  Goliad.  Among  other  things, 
they  brought  along  the  six-pounder  brass  cannon,  so 
that  now  the  army  had  a  battery  of  two. 

The  muskets  were  distributed  to  the  men  who  needed 
them;  and  late  that  afternoon  advance  was  resumed  in 
earnest,  for  the  Salado  Creek,  which  was  only  five  miles 
from  Bejar. 

When  they  went  into  camp,  after  the  first  stretch, 
Colonel  Jim  Bowie  rode  in!  He  had  got  out  of  San 

122 


THE  MARCH  ON  SAN  ANTONIO 

Antonio  just  in  time.  Glad  indeed  were  the  army  to  see 
Jim  Bowie.  He  reported  that  the  Mexican  troops  were 
fortifying  the  town — had  built  walls  across  the  streets 
leading  into  the  two  plazas  or  squares,  so  that  these  were 
now  enclosed  entirely ;  had  mounted  cannon  behind  these 
walls  and  on  the  flat  tops  of  the  stone  houses ;  and  were 
making  ready  to  repel  all  attacks.  The  old  mission  of 
the  Alamo,  surrounded  by  a  high,  thick  wall,  across  the 
San  Antonio  River,  just  outside  of  the  town,  also  was 
well  garrisoned.  And  reinforcements  had  been  received, 
and  Colonel  Ugartechea  was  about  to  be  sent  after  more 
reinforcements. 

Altogether,  Colonel  Bowie  thought  that  General  Cos 
had  decided  to  fight  from  his  fortifications  rather  than  in 
the  open,  after  having  learned  how  the  Texans  were  rally- 
ing ;  and  he  advised  General  Austin  to  push  on  as  rapidly 
as  possible. 

On  the  night  of  the  i9th  a  forced  march  was  made. 
The  Salado  was  reached  at  daybreak.  From  the  advance, 
rifle-shots  drifted  back  through  the  mist,  and  the  alarm 
spread  ;  but  the  shots  proved  to  be  only  those  of  a  skirmish 
with  a  Mexican  spy  company,  who  promptly  retreated 
before  Ben  Milam's  men  and  left  the  crossing  clear. 

So,  on  the  morning  of  October  20,  the  army  camped 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Salado  Creek,  within  sight  of 
Be  jar,  beyond  the  stretch  of  gently  rolling  prairie. 

Now  another  recruit  arrived.  He  was  the  celebrated 
Deaf  Smith  himself — and  he  proved  to  be  thoroughly 
angered.  Amidst  a  curious  crowd  of  Gonzales  men  (he 
had  lived  at  Gonzales  before  he  moved  to  San  Antonio)  he 
told  his  story  in  the  fewest  possible  words ;  his  hand  behind 
his  ear  to  catch  any  comments,  and  a  flush  on  his  dark, 
leathery  face. 

"  Was  goin'  home  to  Bejar  after  a  leetle  hunt  [he  said] . 
Hadn't  heard  'special  about  this  scrimmage.  Know  every- 
body in  Bejar,  anyhow.  Met  up  with  a  Mexican  camp. 
They  signed  me  friendly  to  come  in.  So  I  rides  on  unsus- 

123 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

pectin'.  When  I  got  right  near  they  all  begun  shootin'  at 
me.  Never  teched  me.  Dirty  trick.  Wuss'n  Injuns. 
Made  me  mad.  So  hyar  I  be.  Ready  to  sarve.  Fam'ly 
in  Be  jar  yet,  though.  Got  to  get  'em  out." 

"  Bully  for  you !  That's  the  spirit ! "  they  praised. 
No  recruit  could  be  of  greater  value,  for  "  Deaf  "  Smith, 
the  lone  hunter,  was  as  brave  as  a  bulldog  and  as  cunning 
as  a  fox.  He  could  "  out-Injun  "  the  Indians  themselves. 
And  he  knew  every  foot  of  the  country  and  every  inch 
of  Bejar. 

General  Austin  immediately  made  him  chief  inde- 
pendent scout. 

On  the  morning  after  Deaf  Smith's  arrival  in  such 
a  huff  Ernest  heard  himself  hailed  as  he  was  returning 
from  washing  his  one  extra  pair  of  socks  in  the  creek. 
The  voice  was  that  of  Sergeant  Brown,  who  held  a  piece 
of  paper  in  his  hand. 

"  The  lieutenant's  got  you  down  on  a  detail  this 
mawnin',"  drawled  the  sergeant.  "  You  get  youah  hawss 
an'  gun,  an'  report  to  Majuh  Somervell,  over  yonduh." 

"  What  is  it?     A  scout?  "  queried  Ernest,  joyed. 

"  No.  Deaf  Smith's  heard  from  his  fam'ly,  an'  I 
reckon  you're  goin'  out  to  escort  'em  in." 

Camp  life  had  been  rather  dull,  save  for  the  scouting 
parties  constantly  trotting  out  and  trotting  in;  Jim  and 
Leo  both  had  been  off  on  details  for  outpost  duties — Leo 
even  had  met  the  enemy — and  Ernest  felt  that  it  was  high 
time  he  was  given  a  chance.  He  grabbed  his  little  rifle, 
saddled  and  bridled  in  a  jiffy,  and  on  his  yellow  pony 
loped  hastily  across  the  camp-ground  to  where  Major 
Somervell  was  sitting  his  horse  amidst  a  small  group  of 
other  horsemen.  Deaf  Smith  also  was  there.  And  Dick 
Carroll. 

"I  am  ordered  to  report  to  you  for  duty,  sir,"  said 
Ernest,  saluting  and  trying  not  to  grin. 

The  major  surveyed  him  quizzically  and  scratched  his 
nose. 

124 


THE  MARCH  ON  SAN  ANTONIO 

"  Well,"  he  remarked,  "  if  Dickinson  can  spare  you. 
They  must  grow  soldiers  young,  in  that  company  of  his." 

"  Oh,  he's  a  Texan,  all  right,"  spoke  somebody — Dick 
Carroll.  "  He's  the  boy  who  carried  that  message  from 
Gonzales  to  Burnam's." 

"  Yes,  and  he  can  shoot  as  hard  as  General  Jackson,  I 
bet  you,"  added  somebody  else. 

"  I  wasn't  hinting  to  the  contrary,"  laughed  Major 
Somervell.  "  I  was  just  looking  twice  to  be  sure  I  saw 
him.  Let's  start  and  rescue  Smith's  old  woman  and  kids 
before  he  plumb  bursts." 

The  major  pricked  his  horse;  and  Deaf  Smith,  who 
had  not  heard  a  word  but  who  had  been  alertly  waiting, 
at  the  first  move  leaped  his  horse  to  the  fore.  They  were 
a  free  and  jaunty  little  squad,  as  they  rode  away,  the 
major  and  Deaf  Smith  leading,  and  the  rest  following 
two  by  two,  Ernest  beside  Dick. 

"  Do  you  think  we'll  have  a  fight,  Dick  ?  "  asked  Ernest, 
hopefully,  as  they  trotted  along. 

"  No,  I  don't  look  for  any,"  answered  Dick.  "  We're 
only  ordered  to  the  Espada  mission  below  Bejar,  to  get 
Smith's  family.  They  sent  word  they'd  be  waiting  there, 
and  the  old  man's  uneasy  about  'em.  Bowie  and  Fannin 
have  been  in  that  region,  commandeering  supplies  from 
the  rancheros.  They  say  it's  all  peaceful." 

At  any  rate,  whether  to  a  fight  or  not,  the  trot  and  lope 
across  the  green  prairie,  in  the  fresh  air,  was  a  delight — 
especially  when  one  was  a  Texan  soldier,  among  other 
Texan  soldiers,  and  the  enemy  was  likely  to  be  watching. 

But  nothing  happened.  You  would  not  have  supposed 
that  war  was  being  waged.  Without  a  single  word  Deaf 
Smith  guided  straight  across  the  prairie,  into  the  south- 
west, and  after  about  an  hour's  steady  riding  he  jerked 
his  thumb  and  head,  swerved  toward  a  lone  tree  beside 
the  trail  before,  and  upon  reaching  a  small  group  there, 
halted. 

125 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

They  were  his  wife  and  eight  or  nine  children,  with  a 
burro  piled  high  with  household  stuff.  The  wife  being  a 
Mexican,  and  Deaf  Smith  being  dark  himself,  the  children 
all  looked  like  Mexicans. 

Deaf  Smith  merely  grunted;  the  wife  smiled  pleas- 
antly; the  children  stared.  Deaf  Smith  beckoned  to  the 
smallest  child,  and  lifted  her  before  him  on  the  saddle ; 
his  wife  clambered  behind  him.  Major  Somervell  took 
another  child ;  Dick  Carroll  took  another ;  presently  all  the 
family  were  accommodated.  Deaf  Smith  led  out  again ; 
and  driving  the  burro  the  expedition  turned  back  for  the 
camp. 

"  Huh !  "  commented  Dick  Carroll.  "  Hyar  we  come, 
capturing  half  the  Mexican  nation,  and  never  a  shot  fired.'* 

"  Guess  there  aren't  many  words  wasted  in  this  family, 
boys,"  called  Major  Somervell. 

And  to  laughter  and  good  humor  they  approached  the 
camp  on  the  Salado. 

"  By  cracky ! "  uttered  Dick,  when  the  camp  was  at 
hand,  near  before.  "A  parade,  isn't  it?  And  if  that 
isn't  Sam  Houston  himself  addressing  it,  I'll  eat  my  hat, 
and  his,  too !  " 

Right!  The  army,  cavalry  and  infantry  had  been 
drawn  up,  by  companies,  in  close  formation,  two  ranks 
deep;  the  general  officers  were  sitting  their  horses,  in 
front,  facing  the  line;  and  midway  between  them  and 
the  army  a  large  man,  in  familiar  Mexican  blanket  and 
big  gray  hat,  from  his  saddle  was  making  to  the  men  a 
speech  accompanied  by  vigorous  gestures.  Sam  Houston, 
sure  enough ! 

Just  as  the  scouting  party  arrived,  to  Ernest's  disap- 
pointment the  general  ceased  and  retired;  but  a  hearty 
cheer  applauded  him.  The  parade  was  dismissed,  and 
Ernest  hastily  unsaddled  and  sought  out  Jim  and  Leo — 
who  as  usual  were  confabbing  together. 

"  Aw,  is  that  all  you  got?  "  they  scoffed,  greeting  him. 
"  We  saw  you  come  in." 

126 


THE  MARCH  ON  SAN  ANTONIO 

"  Did  the  best  we  could,"  defended  Ernest.  "  Deaf 
Smith  had  to  have  his  family,  and  so  we  captured  half 
the  Mexican  nation  for  him." 

"Where'dyougo?" 

"  Almost  to  the  Espada  Mission,  on  the  San  Antonio 
River,  six  or  eight  miles  below  Be  jar." 

"Sight  anything?" 

"  Nope." 

"  You  missed  it  here,  then,"  proclaimed  Jim.  "  We 
had  a  big  parade  and  review  again,  and  some  corking 
speeches.  And  Leo's  hawss  r'ared  and  nigh  threw  him 
off." 

"Didn't,  either,"  stoutly  denied  Leo.  "A  fly  must 
have  bit  him,  is  all.  These  pesky  horse-flies  are  getting 
fierce,  this  cold  weather." 

"What'd  they  all  say?"  invited  Ernest,  stretching 
himself  out  comfortably.  "  When  did  Sam  Houston  turn 
up?  What'd  he  say?" 

"  He  rode  in,  a  short  bit  ago,  with  a  bunch  of  men 
from  the  Red  Lands.  We  hear  tell  that  when  he  got  the 
last  message  from  Austin  to  hurry  up  he  gave  his  last 
five  dollars  to  an  express  to  rustle  volunteers  in  his  sec- 
tion, straddled  his  hawss  and  lit  out  for  the  army.  He 
sure  can  make  a  talk.  You  ought  to've  heard  him." 

"  He's  certainly  some  man,"  approved  Leo. 

"  What'd  he  say  ?  "  demanded  Ernest,  again. 

"  Well,"  resumed  Jim,  "  he  opines,  as  a  soldier,  that 
we  need  more  drill  and  more  supplies,  before  we  mix  up 
with  those  Mexican  regulars  and  try  to  take  Bejar.  Thinks 
we'd  better  '  rendeves'  [gather]  t'other  side  the  Guada- 
lupe,  'stead  of  here  in  the  open,  away  from  our  base,  and 
wait  for  artillery  and  ammunition  and  men.  Maybe  he 
doesn't  know  Texans,  but  he  seems  to  know  what  he's 
talking  about." 

"  Knows  how  to  cay  it,  all  right,"  commented  Leo. 
"  I  could  just  sit  and  listen  to  that  man  all  day.  He's 
got  a  voice,  hasn't  he !  Some  man,  some  man." 

127 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"Austin  and  General  Jack  speechified  considerable, 
too,"  continued  Jim.  "  Oh,  we've  got  things  all  planned 
out,  now.  The  council  of  war's  heard  that  the  people 
are  rising  beyond  the  Rio  Grande  in  favor  of  the  republic 
under  the  constitution  of  '24,  and  General  Santa  Anna's 
kept  too  busy  to  fool  with  Be  jar ;  so  we're  going  to  march 
on  it  pronto  and  cut  it  off  and  besiege  it.  General  Austin's 
made  arrangements  with  the  paisanos  and  rancheros 
[ranchers]  'round  here  to  sell  us  plenty  corn  and  stuff, 
and  we'll  have  bread  and  horse- feed.  He's  pledged  his 
own  money  to  pay  for  it  with.  Don  Antonio  Padilla,  a 
big  ranchero,  and  Colonel  Juan  Seguin  of  the  Mexican 
army  have  joined  us,  with  some  Mexicans;  and  Seguin's 
been  made  a  captain  in  the  Texas  army  and'll  raise  a 
company  of  native  volunteers.  All  the  Redlanders  and 
other  East  Texans  are  on  the  way  and  liable  to  arrive 
any  minute,  and  Dr.  Asa  Hoxey's  sending  on  some  twelve- 
pounders  from  San  Felipe.  The  general  consultation's 
going  to  meet  at  San  Felipe,  where  it  left  off  when  its 
members  came  to  the  army,  and  fix  up  a  temporary 
government,  to  provide  for  laws  and  the  army  and  look  out 
after  the  rights  of  the  settlers ;  and  it'll  issue  an  official 
appeal  to  the  United  States  to  help  us,  too.  And  already 
there's  a  couple  of  companies  of  Texas  Volunteers  being 
enlisted  in  New  Orleans — isn't  that  so,  Leo? — to  march 
out  here  and  throw  in  with  the  Texas  cause." 

"  That's  what  we  hear,"  agreed  Leo.  "  But  the  best 
thing  that's  happened  is  bread!  Think  of  that!  Real 
bread,  made  out  of  corn  flour!  I'm  so  blamed  sick  of 
jerked  meat  and  bacon  slivers  that  I  can't  hardly  swallow. 
But  bread !  Wait  till  I  set  my  teeth  in  a  slab  of  bread !  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  mused  Jim.  "  Bread'll  be  mighty 
good,  but  what  I  liked  to  hear  was  about  the  cannon  and 
reinforcements.  I  reckon  v^'il  need  'em,  at  Be  jar,  if 
Cos  has  fortified  it  the  way  Jim  Bowie  says  he  has.  There 
are  eight  hundred  men  at  Bejar  and  we've  got  less'n  five 
hundred." 

128 


THE  MARCH  ON  SAN  ANTONIO 

"  Do  we  have  to  wait  till  those  New  Orleans  companies 
get  here  ?  "  asked  Ernest. 

"  Nobody's  said  so,"  answered  Jim.  "  But  we  may 
wait  for  the  Redlanders.  Those  East  Texas  folks  want 
a  chance,  don't  they.  And  Austin's  looking  powerful 
sick.  We  hear  tell  he  offered  the  job  of  commander-in- 
chief  to  Houston,  but  Houston  wouldn't  take  it  without 
being  regularly  elected.  Anyway,  I  reckon  Houston  and 
a  lot  others'll  have  to  go  in  to  San  Felipe  to  that  consul- 
tation. It  meets  on  the  first." 

"  I  don't  reckon  we'll  retreat  east  of  the  Guadalupe, 
just  the  same,"  asserted  Leo,  doggedly.  "  We  ought  to 
clean  up  Bejar,  so  we  all  can  go  home  for  Christmas, 
that?" 


IX 


WITH  JIM  BOWIE  AT  THE  HORSESHOE 

AT  any  rate,  the  order  came  to  move  forward  to  the 
old  mission  Espada,  where  Colonel  Bowie  had  recon- 
noitered  and  obtained  the  promise  of  provisions.  The 
full  name  of  the  mission  was  San  Francisco  de  la  Espada — 
Saint  Francis  of  the  Sword.  It  had  been  located  here 
in  1731,  or  more  than  one  hundred  years  ago,  but  now 
was  abandoned;  the  priests  and  the  Indians  their  pupils 
had  gone,  and  only  a  few  Mexican  paisanos  and  rancheros 
remained.  By  the  empty  mission  building  flowed  the 
San  Antonio  River;  and  less  than  eight  miles  northwest 
up  the  river  was  Be  jar. 

In  fact,  here  along  the  crystal  San  Antonio  River  there 
were  a  number  of  these  old  missions,  forming  a  group. 
The  Mission  de  la  Espada,  thence  up  the  river  the  Mission 
La  Purisima  Concepcion  de  Acuna,  the  Mission  San  Juan 
Capistrano ;  just  across  the  river  from  Bejar  (or  Bexar) 
itself,  the  Mission  San  Antonio  de  Valero  which  was  now 
known  as  the  Alamo,  some  said  because  of  the  alamos  or 
cottonwood  trees,  and  others  because  of  the  Mexican 
troops  who  were  from  the  town  Alamo  of  Parras;  and 
in  Bejar  itself,  the  Mission  San  Xavier  de  Naxera.  The 
presidio  or  fort,  San  Antonio  de  Bejar,  had  been  supposed 
to  guard  all  these  missions. 

The  old  mission  la  Espada  proved  a  very  pleasant 
camping  place,  and  the  Mexican  country  people  were 
friendly.  But,  of  course,  as  Jim  Hill  said,  one  never  could 
tell  who  were  spying  and  who  were  not.  The  chances 
were  that  everything  the  army  did  was  reported  at  once 
to  General  Cos  in  Bejar.  But  it  also  was  reported,  to 
General  Austin,  that  the  troops  in  Bejar  were  much 

130 


WITH  JIM  BOWIE  AT  THE  HORSESHOE 

alarmed  by  the  rapid  way  in  which  the  Texan  army  grew, 
and  that  General  Cos  had  decided  he  would  do  better  to 
fight  from  behind  walls. 

On  the  afternoon  of  arrival  at  Espada,  Leo  gleefully 
sought  out  Ernest  and  Jim. 

"  Well,  I'm  off  again,"  he  informed.  "  What  are  you 
fellows  going  to  do  ?  Sit  here  ?  " 

"  Why?    Where  you  off  to?  "  they  demanded. 

"  Scouting,  of  course.  Captain  Bill  Travis  and  eighty 
more  of  us." 

"  I'd  like  to  know !  "  protested  Jim.  "  You've  had  one 
scrimmage." 

"  Sure,  and  I  want  another,"  airily  replied  Leo.  "  The 
general  ordered  Captain  Travis  to  pick  eighty  mounted 
men  for  scouting  duty,  and  good  old  Bill  told  me  he 
reckoned  I'd  do  for  one.  I've  been  with  him  before, 
see?  Down  on  the  coast,  when  we  drove  Tenorio  out  of 
Anahuac,  last  spring." 

"Aw,  shucks,  Leo,"  deplored  Ernest.  "Why  can't 
you  get  us  in  on  that  ?  " 

"  With  your  little  pea-shooters  ?  "  retorted  Leo.  "  No, 
boys,  I'm  afraid  not.  ['  Boys/  he  said!]  Every  man  in 
our  bunch  is  armed  with  double-barrels,  or  else  yagers, 
and  pistols.  Those  are  the  general's  orders.  Adios.  Tell 
you  all  about  it  later." 

"  When  do  you  start,  Leo  ?  "  asked  Ernest,  enviously. 

"  I  don't  know.  Any  time  the  captain  says  so,"  replied 
Leo,  hastening  importantly  away. 

"  Scatter-guns  and  blunder-busses !  "  scoffed  Jim,  after 
him.  "  You-all'll  be  a  hefty  crowd,  if  you  meet  up  with 
those  Mexican  regulars."  But  he  added,  to  Ernest: 
"  That  Bill  Travis  is  a  fighter,  though.  I'd  certainly 
admire  to  be  going  along." 

"  So  would  I,"  admitted  Ernest. 

It  indeed  seemed  slow  work,  sitting  around,  waiting  J 
and  that  night  they  missed  the  spunky  Leo,  for  the  Captain 
Travis  troop  of  scouts  had  ridden  out,  reconnoitering. 

131 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

However,  in  the  morning  another  event  occurred. 
Jim,  as  usual,  brought  the  word,  excitedly  hailing  Ernest. 

"  Hurry  up ! "  he  cried.  "  Get  your  hawss  and 
shooting-irons  if  you  want  to  go/' 

"Where?     All  right.     I'm  coming,"  rejoiced  Ernest. 

"  Up-river,  on  a  scout  with  Jim  Bowie  and  Captain 
Fannin.  But  they  won't  wait  long."  And  with  Ernest, 
Jim  hustled  breathlessly  for  the  ponies. 

"How'd  you  know?" 

"  Met  Henry  Karnes,  and  he  told  me  they'd  been 
ordered  out  to  go  with  about  a  hundred  men  and  find  a 
new  camping-place  up-river.  So  I  went  straight  to 
Colonel  Bowie  and  asked  him  to  take  us,  and  he  said  he 
would  if  Captain  Dickinson  had  no  objection,  and  the 
captain  said  '  All  right/  so  I  guess  it  is." 

"  I  should  rather  think  it  was ! "  rejoiced  Ernest. 
"  Leo'll  find  he  hasn't  any  edge  on  us,  won't  he !  " 

"  He  sure  will,"  agreed  Jim,  as  they  saddled  up  like 
lightning.  "  Huh !  I'd  as  soon  be  under  Bowie  and 
Fannin  as  under  Travis.  That  Jim  Bowie  doesn't  take 
back-water  from  anybody !  " 

"Who  else  is  going?" 

"  I  dunno.  Karnes,  and  Dave  Macomb  the  assistant 
adjutant,  and  a  lot  more." 

"  Maybe  we'll  ride  clear  into  Bejar,  then,"  proposed 
Ernest,  as  they  trotted  to  report. 

<%  Bowie  certainly  knows  the  way,"  agreed  Jim. 

"  See  you  later,  Dick,"  called  Ernest,  as  they  passed 
Dick  Carroll.  "  Off  on  a  scout." 

"  Good  luck  to  you,"  responded  Dick,  who  evidently 
had  missed  this  opportunity.  And  now,  riding  away  thus 
on  his  own  hook,  Ernest  felt  grown  and  independent. 

To  be  exact,  there  were  ninety-two  of  them,  who, 
under  Colonel  James  Bowie  the  Louisianan,  and  Captain 
James  Fannin  the  Georgian,  but  Texans  both,  cantered 
two  by  two,  this  morning  of  October  27,  out  of  the  Texan 
camp  at  the  Espada  mission  on  the  San  Antonio  River, 

132 


WITH  JIM  BOWIE  AT  THE  HORSESHOE 

and  headed  into  the  north.  Ernest  and  Jim  of  course 
rode  side  by  side.  Suddenly  Jim  pointed  before. 

"  There  come  the  Travis  scouts  back  again,"  he  uttered. 
"  Now  it's  our  turn  to  shake  our  tails.  See  Leo  ?  " 

With  wave  of  hand  in  greeting  they  all  trotted  obliquely 
across  the  flank  of  the  Travis  column. 

"Where  you  going?"  called  Leo,  sighting  his  two 
partners. 

"  Oh,  just  on  a  little  scout.  Tell  you  all  about  it  when 
we  get  back,"  shouted  Jim,  derisively. 

"  What'd  you  find?  "  added  Ernest. 

" Mucho  pocito  [Much  very  little],"  responded  some- 
body, to  a  general  laugh. 

"  Knew  they  didn't  do  anything,"  remarked  Jim,  satis- 
fied. "  They  aren't  sassy  enough." 

The  trip  was  an  all-day  trip,  up  along  the  crooked, 
limpid  San  Antonio  River — said  to  be  the  most  beautiful 
river  and  the  best  water  in  Texas.  The  old  Mission  San 
Juan  Capistrano  was  first  examined,  but  it  was  too  ex- 
posed for  good  defense.  In  leisurely  manner  Colonel 
Bowie  and  Captain  Fannin  led  on  to  the  Mission  San  Jose 
de  Aguayo,  nearer  to  San  Antonio  and  within  sight  of 
the  Alamo.  The  march  was  slow  and  cautious,  for  the 
country  on  either  flank  and  before  had  to  be  examined. 

San  Jose  was  better,  in  situation,  than  San  Juan,  but 
Colonel  Bowie  decided  to  make  a  short  cut  over  to  the 
Mission  Concepcion.  Here  the  column  arrived  in  mid- 
afternoon. 

u  There's  a  place  right  yonder,"  declared  Henry 
Karnes,  "  that's  the  tightest  leetle  campin'  spot  you  ever 
saw,  colonel.  I  reckon  you  know  it  as  well  as  I.  They 
call  it  the  Horseshoe." 

"  So  I  was  thinking,"  responded  Colonel  Bowie. 
"  We'll  look  at  it." 

The  Horseshoe  struck  everybody  as  being  ideal.  The 
river  made  a  horseshoe  curve,  about  100  yards  wide.  In 
the  curve  was  a  stretch  of  bottom-land,  flat  and  brushy, 

133 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

fifty  to  100  yards  deep.  From  the  points  of  the  horse- 
shoe, on  either  side  to  the  river,  was  a  strip  of  timber, 
and  between  the  points  of  the  horseshoe  and  extending 
well  into  the  timber  was  a  natural  parapet,  about  six  feet 
high,  caused  by  the  bottom-land  lying  below  the  surround- 
ing prairie.  From  the  top  of  the  parapet  the  grassy, 
flowery  prairie  stretched  level  and  open,  like  a  parade- 
ground.  From  the  prairie  one  could  descry,  only  a  mile 
and  a  half  in  the  north,  the  Alamo,  and  the  dun  roof-tops 
of  Bejar  itself,  and  sharp  eyes  could  see  the  Mexican 
flags  lazily  floating  in  the  light  of  the  setting  sun. 

"  Whoopee !  "  quoth  Jim,  as  all  sat  their  saddles  while 
Colonel  Bowie  and  his  officers  rode  about,  on  the  bottoms, 
inspecting  and  conferring.  "  Now  we've  found  it.  Wood, 
water  and  cover;  and  the  whole  Mexican  army  couldn't 
smoke  us  out." 

"  Tisn't  big  enough  for  the  Texan  army,  though," 
prompted  Ernest. 

"  Well,  it's  a  right  snug  little  place  for  this  army," 
proclaimed  Jim, 

"  But  we're  supposed  to  go  back  to  Espada  and  report, 
before  night,  aren't  we?  " 

"  Aw,  fiddle !  "  scoffed  Jim.  "  It's  too  good  a  place 
to  leave  in  a  hurry.  Jim  Bowie's  itching  for  a  fight,  same 
as  the  rest  of  us ;  and  we'd  be  better  off  fighting  in  here 
than  out  on  the  prairie  somewhere.  Who  wants  to  ride 
back  this  time  of  evening  and  maybe  get  surrounded  on 
the  way?  The  army  can  do  without  us  till  we're  ready 
to  go  in.  Camp  ?  Of  course  we're  going  to  camp !  We'll 
see  whether  those  Mexicans  have  any  spunk  in  'em." 

Sure  enough,  the  order  was  given  to  off-saddle  and 
make  camp  in  the  bottoms.  And  away  galloped  David 
Macomb,  the  assistant  adjutant-general,  bearing  the  word 
to  Espada. 

Captain  Fannin's  command,  whose  company  of  fifty 
men  from  East  Texas  formed  one  detachment,  were 
posted  along  the  lower  bend  of  the  river;  the  Colonel 

134 


WITH  JIM  BOWIE  AT  THE  HORSESHOE 

Bowie  detachment  were  posted  opposite,  along  the  upper 
bend.  The  horses  were  picketed,  fires  for  coffee  were 
lighted,  sentries  were  stationed  at  the  river  in  the  rear 
and  on  the  edge  of  the  prairie  in  the  front.  Robert  Calder 
and  six  others  were  sent  into  the  cupola  of  the  mission 
building,  500  yards  distant,  whence  they  could  spy  over 
the  country. 

Mexican  women  from  the  mission  brought  in  tortillas 
(which  were  large  thin  plasters  of  baked  flour  paste)  and 
other  food,  for  sale.  It  was  a  very  comfortable  camp, 
but 

"  Yes,  and  those  blamed  women  will  go  straight  from 
here  to  Be  jar  and  report  every  man  of  us,"  complained 
some  of  the  men.  "  I  could  see  'em  tallyin'  us  off/' 

And  this  was  exactly  what  the  women  did. 

Not  all  the  men  favored  this  camp  for  the  night. 
Several  thought  that  Colonel  Bowie  was  taking  grave 
risks,  to  disobey  orders  and  camp  here  with  less  than  100 
volunteers,  right  in  sight  from  Be  jar  with  its  thousand 
regulars,  and  on  a  spot  from  which  there  could  be  no 
retreat.  The  orders  of  General  Austin  had  instructed 
them  to  return  at  dark  and  report  upon  the  country,  for 
he  was  anxious  to  advance,  himself,  to  a  better  camping- 
ground.  However,  as  Jim  Hill  had  said,  "  they  were 
itching  for  a  fight."  It  was  rather  good  fun,  thus  to  dare 
General  Cos  to  come  out. 

Night  fell,  starry  but  damp.  Voices  spoke  low,  the 
horses  snorted,  the  river  rippled  musically,  and  lying 
snugly  beside  Jim,  Ernest  heard  him  saying : 

"  Bet  you  can  see  the  lights  of  Be  jar,  if  you'd  stand  up. 
Hee-yaw,"  and  Jim  yawned  noisily.  "If  Cos  wants  us 
he  can  come  and  take  us.  Got  your  gun  in  under  the 
blanket  with  you?  It's  a  toler'ble  wet  night,  down  in  this 
bottom." 

"  Yes ;  I've  got  it,"  murmured  Ernest,  already 
drowsing. 

Jim  droned  something  about  a  fog,  and  about  General 
135 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Cos  being  afraid  to  come  out,  anyhow ;  but  Ernest  did  not 
wait  to  hear  just  what. 

The  next  thing  that  he  knew,  Jim  was  nudging  him  in 
the  back.  He  opened  his  eyes  upon  dense  grayness; 
whereat  Jim  whispered: 

"You  awake?    Wake  up!" 

"What's  the  matter?"  And  Ernest  turned  over 
crossly.  "  Who  said  to  wake  up  ?" 

"  I  did.     Listen,  now !    Hear  anything  ?  " 

At  this  hour,  early  dawn,  not  even  the  horses  were 
awake,  and  the  ripple  of  the  river  sounded  low  and  fitful 
as  if  the  old  San  Antonio  were  talking  in  its  sleep.  Ernest 
strained  his  ears  and  his  eyes.  He  could  not  see  a  thing, 
for  a  thick,  saturated  fog  had  settled  down,  enfolding  the 
bottom  and  all  the  world  around.  And  his  ears  seemed 
of  no  more  use  than  his  eyes. 

"  No,  I  don't  hear  anything.     Why?" 

"  Sh !  Listen,  I  tell  you,"  bade  Jim,  impatiently. 
"Hear  that?" 

"  That,"  as  far  as  Ernest  could  guess,  was  a  faint, 
whiny  little  sound,  scarcely  to  be  distinguished  above  the 
murmur  of  the  water.  In  fact,  he  wasn't  certain  that  he 
heard  it  at  all." 

"  What  ?  "  he  demanded.  "  That  ?  Horse  drinking— 
or  maybe  a  coyote  tuning  up.  Go  to  sleep.  We've  got 
plenty  sentries."  And  he  irritably  pulled  his  wet,  heavy 
blanket  higher,  over  his  chin,  for  the  dense  fog  was  thrust- 
ing its  clammy  fingers  down  his  neck. 

"  Sounds  to  me  like  one  of  those  Mexican  carts  squeak- 
ing," asserted  Jim.  "  Don't  hear  it  now,  but  I've  been 
hearing  it,  I  tell  you.  If  it  wasn't  for  those  sentries  I'd 
say  that  Cos  was  crossing  a  cannon  through  the  river." 

"  Well,  Henry  Karnes  is  out  on  guard,  and  he'll  hear 
things  if  anybody  can,"  retorted  Ernest.  "  So  will  those 
fellows  in  the  cupola."  And  as  fast  as  possible  he  took 
another  cat-nap. 

Next  he  was  awakened  for  keeps.     In  his  ears  echoed 

136 


WITH  JIM  BOWIE  AT  THE  HOESESHOE 

a  shrill  Texas  "  Whoo-ee !  " — as  from  a  distance.  Up 
and  down  the  lines  of  prone  figures  word  was  being  passed 
for  all  to  tumble  out. 

"  Somebody  yelled  from  the  cupola !  "  babbled  Jim, 
likewise  awake,  as  he  and  Ernest  struggled  to  sit  up  and 
pull  on  their  damp  boots.  Ghostly  figures  on  either  side 
were  doing  the  same.  "  That's  an  alarm.  I  heard  what 
I  heard  and  they  heard  what  I  heard  and  I  heard  what  they 
heard,  I  reckon." 

The  fog  upon  the  camp  was  astir,  but  all  movements 
and  voices  were  hushed  by  the  heavy  mist.  The  appointed 
mess  cooks  had  been  busy  for  some  time,  evidently  ;  camp- 
fire  smoke  and  the  fragrance  of  coffee  wafted  pleasingly 
through  the  heavy  air. 

"  Aren't  attacked  yet,  are  we  ?  "  stammered  Ernest. 

"  No.  The  fog  out  yonder's  full  of  Mexicans,  though, 
I  'low.  Hope  it  holds  till  we  get  our  coffee.  Come  on." 

Exchanging  brief  comments,  and  listening  tensely,  the 
men  hastily  drank  their  coffee,  and  munched  their  bread 
and  beef.  If  the  Mexicans  were  surrounding  them,  it 
was  being  done  very  quietly.  However,  more  than  one 
in  the  camp  had  thought  he  had  heard  suspicious  sounds. 
And  that  cry  from  the  cupola ! 

"  There  goes  the  change  of  guard,"  remarked  Jim,  as 
he  and  Ernest  finished  breakfast,  still  in  the  fog.  "  We-all 
don't  move  till  the  fog  raises." 

Scarcely  had  he  spoken,  when  from  the  front,  where 
in  the  mist  the  prairie  abruptly  fell  to  the  bottom-land, 
broke  a  quick  muffled  spatter  of  shots — followed  at  once 
by  the  single,  smarter  report  of  a  rifle. 

"  Ball's  opened !  "  shouted  someone  in  the  little  mess ; 
and  every  member  grabbed  his  gun  and  scrambled  to  his 
feet. 

"  Muskets,  first,  that  was ;  then  a  rifle." 

"  Bang !  "     Another  single  shot. 

"  Pistol,  this  time,  boys.  Out  Henry  Karnes's  way. 
'Alerte,  everybody!" 

137 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Ernest  stood  aquiver,  peering.     Peered  all. 

"  I  done  told  you,  I  done  told  you,"  reiterated  Jim. 

The  mist  was  so  thick  that  each  man  barely  could  see 
his  neighbor ;  but  from  the  near  distance  an  officer  called : 

"  Steady,  boys.  They  can't  see  any  better  than  we 
can." 

Colonel  Bowie  hustled  through  the  fog. 

"  Where  were  those  shots  fired  ?  "  he  queried  right  and 
left. 

"  Straight  yonder,  colonel,"  they  directed,  as  he  passed. 

"  Fall  in,  all  of  you,"  he  ordered ;  and  the  word  sped. 

But  the  colonel  did  not  go  far.  Another  figure,  com- 
ing running,  met  him.  By  the  voice  it  was  Henry  Karnes, 
breathless. 

"  Mexicans  out  thar,  colonel,"  he  reported.  "  Don't 
know  how  many,  but  a  hull  platoon  charged  me  jest  as  I 
was  relieved,  an'  I  gin  'em  a  mornin'  pill  from  ol'  Sal; 
they  skedaddled,  an'  another  tried  same  trick,  so  I  gin  'em 
a  dose  from  my  pistol,  an'  they  skedaddled,  too." 

"  Bet  one  didn't  skedaddle,"  said  Jim,  to  Ernest. 
"  That  Henry  can  hit  a  nail-head  with  his  eyes  shut." 

"  Silence  in  the  ranks,"  ordered  an  officer ;  and  the 
men  easily  laughed.  They  were  not  a  whit  afraid. 

The  line  of  this  division  had  been  formed  along  the 
natural  parapet  where  bottom-land  met  prairie  oij  the 
left;  and  across  at  the  right  the  other  division  under 
Captain  Fannin  had  probably  likewise  been  formed. 

"  Steady,"  passed  the  word.  "  Wait  till  the  fog  lifts, 
boys." 

"  Gee,  wish  I  could  see,"  complained  Ernest,  beside 
Jim,  trying  to  stand  on  tiptoe  so  as  to  peek  over  the  edge 
of  the  little  bluff. 

"  I  opine  that  fog  out  there's  plumb  full  of  Mexican 
soldiers,"  predicted  Jim  again. 

"  Move  across  to  the  other  side,  boys,"  was  the  next 
order.  "  The  colonel  wants  us  to  join  lines  with  Fannin, 
so  we  won't  be  shooting  into  each  other.  Then  if  those 

138 


WITH  JIM  BOWIE  AT  THE  HORSESHOE 

Mexicans  charge  in  here  we  can  everlastingly  whallop 
'em." 

So  in  spectral  procession  they  changed  to  the  Captain 
Fannin  side,  and  the  double  ranks  now  extended  around 
the  inside  of  the  horseshoe,  from  the  parapet  front  to  the 
river. 

"  Clear  away  the  brush,  boys,  under  foot  and  on  top, 
so  we  can  move  and  see  to  shoot;  and  where  the  bank's 
too  high  to  look  over,  dig  toe-holds  for  yourselves." 

From  in  front  muskets  were  hammering  away,  as  the 
Mexicans  proceeded  to  shoot  blindly  into  the  fog. 

"  They  must  think  they're  going  to  scare  us  out  by 
noise,"  asserted  Jim,  while  he  and  Ernest  and  their  com- 
rades tore  and  slashed  and  dug.  "  They've  got  cannon, 
too,  all  right  enough.  Those  were  the  wheels  I  heard 
squeaking." 

Ernest  listened  anxiously  for  the  "  Boom !  "  of  the  can- 
non. He  didn't  mind  so  much  the  muskets,  but  those 
cannon  balls  would  plough  through  everything. 

Now  the  brush  had  been  cleared,  and  footholds  had 
been  cut,  and  there  seemed  nothing  to  do  but  to  wait  again. 

See?  The  fog  was  reddening,  as  it  thinned  and  the 
sun's  beams  struck  through — for  the  sun  must  have  been 
up  and  shining  three  hours. 

"  Steady,  boys,"  repeated  the  officers— and  here,  at  a 
run,  into  the  bottom-land  entered  the  seven  outpost  guards 
from  the  mission  cupola. 

"  Did  you  hear  me  whoop  ?  "  panted  Robert  Calder, 
"  Nigh  all  Alexico  is  out  yon.  We  glimpsed  'em  through 
a  break  in  the  fog." 

"  Wall,  you're  in  time  for  the  dance,"  remarked  Henry 
Karnes. 

The  fog  was  lifting,  rolling  up  like  a  great  curtain. 
Along  the  lines  under  the  low  bluff  sounded  the  click  of 
gun  locks,  as  hammers  were  cocked. 

"  Steady !  Steady !  Pick  your  marks,  boys,  and  fire 
at  command." 

139 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  See  their  feet  ?"  whispered  Jim,  tensely,  to  Ernest. 

Ernest  nodded,  for  his  heart  was  thumping  in  his 
throat  and  he  did  not  dare  try  to  speak.  This  was  going 
to  be  a  bigger  fight  than  the  one  at  Gonzales. 

And  a  curious  sight  that  was :  out  on  the  prairie  before 
them,  about  300  yards  distant,  an  array  of  men's  legs,  in 
dankly  hanging  cotton  trousers ;  and  an  amazing  array  of 
slimmer  horses'  legs!  Some  of  the  legs  were  moving, 
hither-thither,  as  if  marching  about  by  themselves,  for  the 
fog  cut  sharply  and  they  appeared  to  have  no  bodies. 

"  Lucky  for  them  they  fetched  their  legs/'  commented 
one  of  Ernest's  neighbors.  "  They'll  need  'em  to  run 
away  on." 

"  I  like  something  better'n  legs  to  shoot  at,"  added 
somebody  else. 

The  fog  had  lifted  from  the  parapet,  and  the  Texan 
lines  were  revealed — and  the  long-barrelled  muskets  and 
rifles  levelled  and  resting  upon  the  sod,  and  the  lean 
bronzed  faces  laid  expectantly  against  each  stock.  Ernest, 
aiming  steadily,  blinked  and  stared. 

Swiftly  uprolled  the  fog — above  the  waists,  and  the 
horses'  bellies,  and  ever  higher;  and  suddenly  the  sun 
blazed  down  and  the  whole  prairie  leaped  into  brilliant 
life. 

The  Mexicans!  See  them!  Fully  400:  infantry,  in 
blue  cotton  uniforms  and  high-peaked  caps ;  half  a  dozen 
companies  of  cavalry;  and  a  brass  cannon  drawn  by 
mules !  They  had  forded  the  river  and  here  they  were, 
opposite  the  points  of  the  horseshoe ! 

"  There's  Ugartechea,  with  the  cavalry !  "  exclaimed 
Jim.  "  Who's  the  infantry  officer?  " 

"  Colonel  Cos.  He's  brother  to  the  general,  lad,"  was 
an  answer. 

The  infantry  were  marching,  with  arms  trailed,  to  the 
right,  so  as  to  front  the  Texan  lines ;  the  cavalry  stayed 
mainly  in  the  centre,  but  extended  also  to  right  and  left, 
as  if  preparing  for  a  sweeping  charge ;  and  between  them 

140 


WITH  JIM  BOWIE  AT  THE  HORSESHOE 

and  the  infantry  was  the  brass  cannon,  pointed,  its  gunner 
whirling  his  match  to  keep  it  aglow. 

"  Why  don't  we  shoot?  "  demanded  Ernest,  fretfully. 
"  I  can't  hold  this  bead  forever!" 

"  Steady,  boys,"  warned  the  officers. 

"Aim  for  the  whites  of  their  eyes,"  cheered  Henry 
Karnes. 

The  infantry  had  formed  not  more  than  200  yards 
away,  and  were  raising  their  pieces ;  a  trumpet  pealed 
briskly,  in  a  signal — and  now,  somewhere  far  down  the 
Texan  line,  rang  a  rifle.  The  gunner  with  the  lighted 
match  threw  up  his  free  arm  and  plunged  headlong. 

"  Give  it  to  'em,  boys ! "  echoed  the  rapid  order. 
"  Never  mind  the  infantry.  Watch  the  cavalry  and  that 
gun." 

"  Crackity-crack-crack !  "  spoke  the  rifles. 

"  Bang !  Bang-bang-bang !  "  mingled  the  muskets,  of 
heavier  voice. 

Ernest  hastily  pressed  trigger ;  whether  he  hit  anybody 
or  not  he  could  not  tell,  for  all  the  Mexican  lines  were 
thrown  into  confusion.  Down  lurched  the  horsemen; 
down  staggered  the  artillerymen,  and  the  infantry  line 
was  strewn  with  fallen  figures.  He  did  not  even  hear  the 
report  of  his  own  gun ;  the  Mexican  infantry  were  answer- 
ing with  belching  volleys  that  rolled  thunderously  across 
the  prairie,  and  on  either  side  of  him  his  comrades  were 
blazing  away. 

"  Those  Mexican  soldiers  can't  shoot,"  panted  Jim, 
working  hard  to  aim,  fire,  load  and  aim  again. 

And  that  seemed  true ;  of  all  the  volleys,  not  a  bullet 
struck  anywhere  near. 

"  Gimme  a  chance  hyar,"  snarled  a  voice  in  Ernest's 
ear,  and  a  hand  jerked  him  backward.  He  had  forgotten ; 
the  plan  was,  that  each  man  should  fire  and  step  back  to 
load  while  the  man  behind  him  took  a  turn.  So  he  stepped 
back. 

A  wild  cheer  arose.  The  Mexican  infantry  were 
141 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

scurrying,  disorganized ;  they  had  not  stood  at  all — no,  not 
before  those  deadly  balls  from  the  Texan  sharpshooters, 
everyone  of  whom,  including  Ernest,  could  stop  a  running 
deer  with  a  single  shot.  And  the  cavalry  had  broken 
also ;  the  horses  were  wheeling,  riders  were  spurring,  and 
with  the  flat  of  their  swords  striving  to  rally  their  men, 
the  officers  were  following. 

"  Never  mind  their  backs,  boys ! "  rose  the  voice  of 
Colonel  Bowie.  "  Wait  and  give  it  to  them  in  their  faces.'* 

The  crackle  of  rifles  and  bang  of  muskets  slackened, 
but  only  for  an  instant.  The  brass  cannon  was  coming ; 
lashing  their  mules  the  cannoneers  who  had  replaced  the 
fallen  were  forging  to  the  front,  and  the  cavalry  had 
formed  in  support.  Into  new  position,  dangerously  near 
on  the  right  flank,  whirled  the  bounding  cannon — the 
cavalry  trumpet  pealed  again,  for  a  charge,  and  the  horse- 
men, bending  low,  launched  in  an  oblique  column  to  storm 
the  horseshoe  further  to  the  left  of  the  Texan  line. 

"  Once  more !  Stop  that  cannon  and  those  horsemen, 
boys!" 

The  brass  field-piece  belched  a  white  cloud,  but  before 
the  grape-shot  rattled  and  swished  over-head  and  spat- 
tered among  the  trees  every  man,  it  seemed,  within  the 
smoke  had  fallen  dead.  Others  rushed  up  to  lend  a  hand. 
They,  too,  fell.  Ernest  glanced  with  the  corner  of  his 
eye  at  the  cavalry — and  he  saw  only  a  confused  mass  of 
horses,  many  riderless,  their  stirrups  flapping,  galloping 
out  of  danger. 

"  Take  the  cannon,  boys !  The  cannon  and  victory !  " 
shouted  Colonel  Bowie. 

The  cry  was  repeated  down  the  lines.  The  men,  and 
Ernest,  and  Jim,  began  to  edge  along  the  breastwork, 
firing  as  they  went,  and  ever  shortening  the  distance  to  the 
field-piece. 

Almost  as  fast  as  they  arrived  to  help  discharge  it,  the 
Mexican  soldiers,  both  infantry  and  cavalry,  were  shot 
down.  The  cavalry  tried  another  charge — officers  urging 

142 


DOWN    SANK   THE   LAST   CANNONEER 


WITH  JIM  BOWIE  AT  THE  HORSESHOE 

with  the  flat  of  their  swords;  and  again  they  broke  and 
fled. 

Five  times  the  cannon  belched,  while  the  infantry,  in 
the  rear,  delivered  useless  volleys,  and  the  cavalry  dashed 
and  recoiled. 

"  The  cannon  and  victory !  "  welled  more  determinedly 
the  hoarse  clamor. 

Now  the  last  detachment  of  impromptu  cannoneers 
were  cut  to  a  last  man.  The  mules,  tortured  and  panic- 
stricken,  had  broken  from  their  traces  and  had  stampeded 
straight  through  the  infantry.  At  the  piece  only  one  man 
was  left;  he  sprang  forward  from  the  cassion  with  a 
hammer  and  spike,  to  drive  the  nail  into  the  touch-hole 
and  spike  the  gun.  Sam  Whiting,  on  Ernest's  right, 
hastily  threw  up  his  rifle  and  shot.  Down  sank  the  last 
cannoneer ;  and  none  came  to  replace  him. 

"  Wall,"  drawled  Henry  Karnes,  his  hat  gone,  his  red 
hair  tousled  with  energy  and  wet  with  the  perspiration, 
"  I  reckon  that's  our  gun.  Nobody  else  claims  it." 

Jim  turned  to  Ernest.     His  face  was  aflame. 

"  Hooray !  "  he  croaked.  "  We've  won.  Ninety-two 
of  us  licked  four  hundred." 

Ernest  tried  to  hurrah,  but  his  voice  stuck  fast  in  his 
powder-dried  throat.  So  he  agreed  by  shaking  hands 
hard.  Suddenly  he  felt  very  tired. 


AN  APPEAL  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES 

Now  all  firing  from  the  Mexican  forces  had  ceased ; 
behind  their  brushy  breastwork  encircling  the  front  of 
the  bottom-land  the  Bowie  and  Fannin  men  might  take 
breath,  congratulate  one  another,  and  peer  keenly  through 
the  smoke  wreaths  wafting  away  on  the  morning  breeze. 
The  brush  was  blackened  and  burned  by  powder ;  beyond, 
the  green  prairie  was  strewn  with  Mexican  soldiers  and 
horses,  the  majority  killed  outright — and  the  brass  cannon 
stood  alone  hub-deep  in  bodies;  further  beyond,  out  of 
range  of  the  deadly  rifles  and  muskets,  the  Mexican 
cavalry  and  infantry  were  streaming  in  groups  for  the 
town  of  Bejar.  Already  some  were  re  fording  the  river. 

"  Get  that  cannon,  boys,"  ordered  Colonel  Bowie ;  and 
with  wild  cheers  a  score  of  the  men  scrambled  to  the 
prairie  and  raced  for  the  abandoned  field-piece.  After 
them  flocked  the  others — Ernest  and  Jim  cheering  as 
lustily  as  any. 

"  Give  'em  a  taste  of  their  own  medicine,"  rose  the  cry. 
Around  was  nimbly  whirled  the  cannon,  and  pointed  at 
the  fleeing  enemy;  but  the  cassion  was  almost  empty  of 
ammunition  and  Colonel  Bowie  bade  that  the  few  powder 
cartridges  be  saved. 

Then  arose  another  cry. 

"  More  cavalry,  boys !  Watch  out !  Back  to  camp !  " 
And,  instantly :  "  No !  They're  our  own  men.  Hooray ! 
It's  Travis!  Travis!" 

For,  across  and  below,  up  the  river  course  were  gal- 
loping hard  in  broad  column  a  troop  of  horsemen,  by  their 
rough-and-ready  garb  and  the  way  they  rode,  Texans! 
Captain  Travis  led.  Evidently  they  were  bent  upon  cut- 
ting the  Mexicans  off ;  but  they  were  too  late.  The  Mexi- 
can cavalry  and  infantry  hastened  faster — occasionally 

144 


AN  APPEAL  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES 

faced  and  threatened — -there  were  shots  from  both  sides — 
and  after  pressing  close  on  the  rear  and  flanks  the  Travis 
men  turned  back  and  the  harassed  Cos  and  Ugartechea 
soldiers,  cavalry  last,  hustled  into  the  Alamo  and  Bejar. 
The  dun  walls  swallowed  them  from  sight. 

"  Get  your  horses,  boys !  " 

"  No !    Wait.     Here  comes  the  main  army !  " 

And  coming  it  was,  in  battle  array:  the  infantry  at 
quick  step,  the  horses  at  an  amble,  the  Lone  Star  flag  of  the 
Harrisburg  company  in  the  front ;  skirmishers  out  before 
and  on  either  flank,  and  General  Austin  and  his  staff 
leading. 

"  Let's  find  Leo,"  proposed  Jim.  "  Lef  s  meet  'em. 
There's  nothing  more  to  do  here.  Some  of  the  other  men 
are  going — see  ?  " 

For  Colonel  Bowie  had  left,  and  Henry  Karnes,  and 
several  more,  as  if  to  report  and  to  exchange  news.  Noth- 
ing loth  was  Ernest  to  follow  their  example.  It  was  not 
pleasant,  on  this  bloody  prairie  where  so  many  bodies 
were  lying.  Why,  around  the  cannon  itself  were  sixteen. 

He  and  Jim  ran  to  seize  their  ponies,  saddled  and  wait- 
ing in  the  protection  of  the  timber  skirting  the  bottom- 
land ;  and  away  they  loped,  to  where  the  Travis  troop  and 
the  main  army  had  come  together. 

"  We  must  follow  them  right  into  town/'  was  ex- 
claiming General  Austin.  "  Take  them  before  they've 
recovered." 

"  No !  "  protested  Colonel  Bowie.  "  That  would  be 
madness,  general.  Don't  try  it.  They've  cannon  enough 
mounted  on  the  walls  of  the  town  and  the  Alamo  to  cut 
us  to  pieces  on  that  open  prairie.  I've  seen  the  cannon, 
and  I  know." 

"  From  what  Bowie  tells  of  the  fortifications  and  the 
number  of  men  manning  them  I  agree  with  him,  general," 
added  Captain  Fannin,  arriving. 

Ernest  looked  in  vain  for  General  Houston,  but  he  did 
not  see  the  big  form  and  the  big  hat  anywhere. 

145 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"Where's  Leo  Roark?"  demanded  Jim,  as  he  and 
Ernest  mingled  with  some  of  the  Travis  men.  For  Leo 
was  nowhere  in  sight. 

"  Roark?  He's  down  toward  San  Felipe  somewhere, 
by  this  time." 

"How's  that?" 

"  The  delegates  to  the  consultation  left  last  night,  and 
a  lot  of  East  Texas  fellows  went  with  'em  to  guard  'em  to 
San  Felipe.  So  Leo  joined  with  some  of  his  own  crowd, 
and  mebbe  he'll  go  clear  home  to  see  how  his  folks  are 
getting  on.  There  wasn't  enough  excitement  hyar- 
abouts." 

"  Aw,  thunder !    He  said  he'd  stick,"  complained  Jim. 

"  He'll  be  back.  You  can  depend  on  that.  You  can't 
keep  any  such  lad  away  from  a  scrimmage  long." 

"  Where's  Sam  Houston?  "  asked  Ernest. 

"  Gone,  with  the  other  delegates,  to  tend  the  consul- 
tation, same  as  the  rest  of  'em.  Somebody's  got  to  pro- 
vide for  this  army,  or  there  won't  be  any  army." 

"  Jim  Hill !    Oh,  Jim  Hill !  "  shouted  a  shrill  voice. 

Jim  turned  quickly  in  his  saddle.  The  voice  had  issued 
from  the  ranks  of  a  company  of  infantry  standing  at  ease, 
about  seventy-five  yards  distant ;  a  figure  toward  the  end 
of  the  line  waved  his  hat. 

"  Sion  Bostick,  sure  as  shooting ! "  exclaimed  Jim. 
Away  he  galloped,  pulled  short,  in  front  of  the  company 
ranks,  sprang  from  his  horse  and  shook  hands  vigorously 
with  Sion. 

Presently  he  came  loping  back. 

"  That's  Sion,  all  right,  from  down  near  Season's. 
Walked  all  the  way,  till  his  feet  are  plumb  blistered.  Had 
to  leave  his  horse  at  home  for  the  ploughing.  You'll  meet 
him  at  camp." 

General  Austin  evidently  had  decided  to  heed  the 
advice  of  Colonel  Bowie,  for  orders  were  being  given  to 
camp  here  at  Concepcion.  A  council  of  war  was  held  at 
once.  It  also  voted  to  postpone  the  attack  upon  Bejar 

146 


AN  APPEAL  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES 

and  the  Alamo ;  for  the  Alamo  alone,  according  to  Colonel 
Bowie,  possessed  thirty  pieces  of  artillery,  which  com- 
manded all  the  approaches,  and  against  which  the  two  six- 
pounders,  from  Gonzales  and  from  Goliad,  could  do  little. 
As  for  the  captured  Mexican  four-pounder,  it  had  no 
ammunition. 

As  soon  as  camp  was  made,  and  the  companies  dis- 
missed, Sion  looked  Jim  up,  and  Ernest  was  introduced 
to  him.  He  was  a  sturdy,  tanned  and  freckled  boy  of 
sixteen  (same  age  as  Jim)  armed  with  a  long,  heavy- 
barrelled  Kentucky  rifle,  as  tall  as  he  was.  It  had  been 
his  father's,  he  said ;  but  his  father  had  died  almost  two 
years  ago,  so  now  it  was  his. 

"  I  joined  as  soon  as  my  mother'd  let  me,"  he  explained. 
"  She  finally  'lowed  I  could  come  along  with  Cap'n, 
Splann's  company.  I  don't  know  what  this  war's  all 
about,  but  here  I  am.  The  school's  busted  up,  anyhow. 
Nigh  everybody  down  our  way's  enlisted,  and  the  kids 
that  aren't  big  enough  to  take  the  war-path  have  got  to 
work  at  home.  You  fellows  must  have  had  a  toler'bly 
smart  little  fight." 

"  Well,  I  should  say,"  asserted  Jim.  "  That  prairie 
yonder  looks  like  it." 

"  The  whole  army'd  have  got  here  before  sun-up, 
declared  Sion,  "  only  that  those  East  Texans  went  along 
with  the  delegates  to  guard  'em,  and  when  Macomb  came 
in  reporting  where  you  fellows  all  were,  two  more  com- 
panies were  sent  back  after  the  first  company,  to  fetch 
'em  in,  and  we  had  to  wait.  The  two  companies  came  in 
without  the  first  company,  but  then  it  was  after  sun-up 
already.  If  it  hadn't  have  been  for  that,  we'd  have  got 
here  in  time  for  the  fight,  and  the  whole  outfit  of  those 
Mexicans  would  have  been  captured.  Then  General  Cos 
in  Bejar  would  have  listened  to  us,  I  reckon.  I  tell  you 
what,  Steve  Austin  was  right  vexed  when  he  heard  Bowie 
was  going  to  stay  here  instead  of  obeying  orders  and 
turning  back.  It  might  have  meant  the  loss  of  all  of  you, 

147 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

and  that'd  have  left  the  army  in  a  pretty  pickle,  with 
near  a  hundred  men  wiped  out." 

"  Aw,"  answered  Jim,  bravely,  "  we  stayed  and  did  a 
good  job.  Ninety  of  us  whalloped  four  hundred,  and 
we're  ready  to  do  it  again." 

"  We  sure  are,"  supported  Ernest. 

It  was  found  that  only  one  Texan — poor  Dick  Andrews 
— had  been  killed,  and  that  no  one  else  had  even  been 
wounded ;  but  sixty  of  the  Mexicans  were  counted,  lying 
on  the  field,  and  others,  mainly  officers,  had  been  carried 
into  Bejar.  Some  forty  Mexicans  had  been  wounded  and 
borne  away. 

About  noon,  while  the  army  were  eating  dinner,  a 
priest  in  a  black  robe  approached  from  Bejar,  with  some 
helpers  and  carts,  and  was  granted  permission  to  remove 
the  slain.  First  he  laid  the  bodies  in  a  long  row  on  the 
ground,  and  prayed  over  them ;  then  he  had  them  loaded 
into  the  carts,  tied  fast  with  rawhide  ropes,  and  hauled 
into  town  by  the  oxen. 

Three  hundred  reinforcements  from  East  Texas  were 
reported  as  being  on  the  way  to  join  the  army ;  and  while 
waiting  for  them  at  Concepcion  General  Austin  issued 
some  stringent  orders,  to  "  hold  the  men  down,"  as  Dick 
Carroll  expressed  it.  There  must  be  no  more  chances 
taken  such  as  that  at  the  Horseshoe. 

The  army  is  now  in  presence  of  the  enemy  [read  the 
orders] ;  prompt  obedience  to  orders  and  strict  discipline 
will  soon  effect  the  great  object  of  the  campaign,  but  with- 
out them  nothing  but  disgrace  and  ruin  will  be  the  result. 

It  is  therefore  expressly  ordered  that  any  officer  who 
disobeys  orders  shall  be  immediately  arrested  and  sus- 
pended from  his  command  until  a  court-martial  decides 
his  case. 

Strong  out-posts  were  stationed — one  squad  being 
placed  in  the  upper  story  of  the  mission,  to  keep  watch 
over  the  country  about,  and  detachments  of  cavalry  were 

148 


AN  APPEAL  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES 

detailed  to  ride  in  a  wide  circle  around  the  town  and 
prevent  provisions  and  information  from  entering. 

Another  Texas  flag  appeared  at  this  encampment.  It 
had  been  in  the  knapsack  of  James  McGahey  of  the 
Lynchburg  company  of  volunteers,  and  now  for  the  first 
time  Ernest  saw  it  being  shown  by  him.  It  was  of  blue 
silk,  with  a  big  white  star  painted  in  the  centre,  over  the 
word :  "  Independence  " ;  but  because  of  this  word  it  was 
not  being  used,  although  it  had  been  in  the  McGahey 
knapsack  for  a  number  of  weeks.  Texas  was  fighting 
for  her  rights  as  a  state  and  not  for  independence,  and 
the  Texas  leaders  wanted  this  plainly  understood. 

"  I  suppose  if  the  Mexican  people  once  think  we're 
trying  to  leave  'em  they'll  all  turn  against  us,"  reasoned 
Jim,  as  he  and  Sion  and  Ernest  discussed  the  flag.  "  That's 
a  mighty  pretty  flag,  anyhow;  about  as  pretty  as  the 
Harrisburg  flag  that  Mrs.  Dodson  made.  I'd  as  lief  carry 
it,  and  tell  Mexico  to  go  to  grass." 

"If  we  don't  get  state  rights  maybe  we'll  declare  for 
independence,  and  be  a  republic  with  Sam  Houston  for 
president,"  offered  Ernest,  recalling  what  Sam  Houston 
had  prophesied  when  he  accepted  Major  Rector's  razor. 
"  I'd  like  to  be  at  the  consultation  and  hear  him  speak." 

"  Maybe  so,"  agreed  Jim.  "  But  I'd  like  to  be  here, 
too,  and  help  take  Be  jar  while  they're  talking." 

However,  the  taking  of  Bejar  did  not  progress  very 
rapidly.  To  be  sure,  on  the  next  day,  which  was  Novem- 
ber 29,  the  expected  reinforcements  arrived — 200  from 
East  Texas,  so  that  now  the  army  numbered  600,  rank  and 
file.  General  Austin  stayed  at  Concepcion,  with  one-half 
the  army,  and  sent  the  other  division,  under  Colonel 
Edward  Burleson,  the  Jackson  soldier,  up  the  river  about 
half  a  mile,  so  that  now  two  sides  of  Bejar  were  guarded  ; 
the  cavalry  rode  around  and  around,  covering  all  sides; 
and  not  a  Mexican  soldier  ventured  out  of  the  fortifi- 
cations, except  to  cross  the  river  between  Bejar  and  the 
Alamo. 

149 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Sion  had  gone  with  the  Burleson  division;  and  with 
Leo  still  absent  in  the  east,  this  left  Jim  and  Ernest  to 
depend  on  one  another  again. 

It  was  said  that  General  Austin  was  delaying  for  more 
cannon,  and  a  body  of  volunteers  from  the  United  States. 
An  express  from  San  Felipe  brought  word  that  the  consul- 
tation had  gathered,  and  that  two  companies  of  the  United 
States  volunteers  were  sailing  from  New  Orleans  to  join 
the  Texans.  He  brought  also  copies  of  a  proclamation 
that  had  been  issued  by  the  Central  Committee  of  Defense 
(now  changed  to  a  General  Council)  at  San  Felipe,  to 
the  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

Dick  Carroll  got  hold  of  one  copy,  and  read  it  aloud 
to  a  little  group  which  included  Jim  and  Ernest. 

SAN  FELIPE  DE  AUSTIN, 

October  26,  1835. 
To  the  Citizens  of  the  United  States  of  the  North: 

The  general  council  of  all  Texas  have  determined  to 
address  you  in  behalf  of  suffering  Texas,  and  to  invoke 
your  assistance. 

Our  citizens  were  invited  to  settle  Texas  by  a  govern- 
ment having  for  its  model  that  of  the  United  States  of  the 
North.  Under  that  invitation  thousands  emigrated  here, 
and  have  subdued  a  vast  and  extended  wilderness  to  the 
purposes  of  agriculture.  In  place  of  the  solitary  region 
inhabited  hitherto  only  by  the  savage  and  the  beast,  they 
now  present  a  country  prosperous  in  the  highest  degree, 
and  having  inscribed  on  its  face  a  universal  assurance 
of  its  future  greatness  and  prosperity. 

"  That's  right,"  they  encouraged.  "  And  we've  sure 
paid  for  all  we've  got.  If  'twasn't  for  us  there  wouldn't 
be  a  sod  turned  in  all  Texas." 

And  now  [continued  Dick],  when  we  had  accom- 
plished all  this,  when  we  had  just  fairly  established  our- 
selves in  peace  and  plenty,  just  brought  around  us  our 
families  and  friends,  the  form  of  government  under  which 
we  had  been  born  and  educated,  and  the  only  one  to  which 
we  would  have  sworn  allegiance,  is  destroyed  by  the 

150 


AN  APPEAL  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES 

usurper,  Santa  Anna,  and  a  military,  central  government 
is  about  to  be  established  in  its  stead.  To  this  new  form 
of  government  the  people  of  Texas  have  refused  to 
submit. 

"  Not  by  a  jugful  will  we  submit,"  they  chorused. 
"  We're  going  to  see  this  thing  through." 

What  number  of  mercenary  soldiers  will  invade  our 
country  we  know  not  [continued  Dick,  reading],  but  this 
much  we  do  know,  that  the  whole  force  of  the  nation  that 
can  possibly  be  spared  will  be  sent  to  Texas,  and  we 
believe  that  we  will  have  to  fight  superior  numbers.  But 
we  believe  victory  in  the  end  will  be  ours.  Only  one 
sentiment  animates  every  bosom,  and  every  one  is  deter- 
mined on  '  victory  or  death/ 

"  My  sentiments  exactly,  boys,"  remarked  somebody. 
"  Expressed  just  like  this : 

For  this  we  are  determined,  to  die  or  to  be  free, 
And  TEXAS  TRIUMPHANT  our  watchword  shall  be ! 

Better  to  die  freemen  than  to  live  as  slaves." 

"  Listen  here,"  bade  Dick.  "  We're  coming  now  to 
a  powerful  piece  of  language.  It's  the  kernel."  And  he 
read  with  rising  tone  and  kindling  cheek. 

Citizens  of  the  United  States  of  the  North — we  are 
but  one  people!  Our  fathers,  side  by  side,  fought  the 
battles  of  the  Revolution.  We,  side  by  side,  fought  the 
battles  of  1812  and  1815.  We  were  born  under  the  same 
government,  taught  the  same  political  creed,  and  we  have 
wandered  where  danger  and  tyranny  threaten  us.  You 
are  united  to  us  by  all  the  sacred  ties  that  can  bind  one 
people  to  another.  You  are,  many  of  you,  our  fathers  and1 
brothers — among  you  dwell  our  sisters  and  mothers — we 
are  alien  to  you  only  in  country.  Our  principles,  both 
moral  and  political,  are  the  same ;  our  interest  is  one,  and 
we  require  and  ask  your  aid,  appealing  to  your  patriotism 
and  generosity. 

We  invite  you  to  our  country.  We  have  land  in 
abundance,  and  it  shall  be  liberally  bestowed  on  you. 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

We  have  the  finest  country  on  the  face  of  the  globe. 
We  invite  you  to  enjoy  it  with  us  and  we  pledge  to  you 
that  every  volunteer  in  our  cause  shall  be  not  only  justly 
but  generously  rewarded. 

The  cause  of  Texas  is  plainly  marked  out.  She  will 
drive  every  Mexican  soldier  beyond  her  limits,  or  the 
people  of  Texas  will  leave  before  San  Antonio  the  bones 
of  their  bodies.  We  will  secure  on  a  firm  and  solid  basis 
our  constitutional  rights  and  privileges,  or  we  will  leave 
Texas  a  howling  wilderness.  We  know  that  right  is  on 
our  side,  and  we  are  now  marching  to  the  field  of  battle, 
reiterating  our  fathers'  motto,  'to  live  free  or  to  die.' 

R.  R.  ROYALL,  President. 
A.  HUSTON,  Secretary. 

Dick  concluded  and  glanced  around.  Ernest  had  felt 
his  own  cheek  kindling,  and  his  eyes  brightening,  and  he 
marked  the  same  symptoms  in  all  the  group. 

"  Boys,"  said  Dick,  "  I  call  that  a  mighty  fine  document. 
If  there  aren't  people  in  the  United  States  who'll  think 
enough  of  the  cause  of  human  liberty,  'specially  where 
their  own  kin's  concerned,  to  grab  their  guns  and  light  out 
to  help  us  other  Americans,  red  blood  up  yonder  is  terrible 
scarce/* 

"  Why  doesn't  the  United  States  send  an  army  down  ?  " 
blurted  Jim,  hotly.  "  She  doesn't  like  Mexico,  anyhow, 
and  now's  her  chance.  They  almost  had  a  war  over  the 
eastern  boundary,  and  the  United  States  is  always  trying 
to  buy  Texas  to  the  Rio  Grande.  Let  her  come  and  take 
us." 

"  Oh,  sho',  now !  "  rebuked  Dick.  "  The  United  States 
army  has  no  call  to  come  down  in  here.  We  aren't  fighting 
for  independence — yet — and  that  would  be  invading  part 
of  Mexico  and  seizing  one  of  her  states,  and  there'd  be 
a  pretty  how-de-do.  Nations  can't  do  that  sort  of  thing 
without  other  nations  objecting.  Fact  is,  for  volunteers 
to  arm  themselves  in  the  United  States  and  then  cross  over 
is  ag'in  law,  and  for  the  government  up  north  to  allow 

152 


AN  APPEAL  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES 

that  is  consider'ble  of  a  friendly  act,  and  Mexico'll  feel 
right  sore  about  it." 

"  Who's  this  Huston  who  signs  as  secretary  ?  Not 
Sam  Houston  ?  " 

"  No,  sir.  Nor  any  relative,  far  as  I  know.  Spells 
his  name  different.  We'll  hear  from  Sam,  later." 

On  the  next  day  or  two,  General  Austin  ordered 
Colonel  Bowie  to  march  the  division  up  around  back  of 
the  Alamo,  and  join  the  other  division.  They  all  crossed 
the  river  north  of  the  Alamo,  to  an  old  mill  on  the  west 
side  of  the  stream;  so  that  now  the  whole  army  were 
almost  within  cannon-shot  of  the  Alama  to  the  south, 
east  of  the  river,  and  within  half  a  mile  of  the  town  to 
the  southwest  on  the  west  side.  It  was  reported  that 
General  Cos  was  ready  to  surrender ;  but  when  a  messen- 
ger was  sent  forward  under  flag  of  truce,  with  summons 
to  surrender,  the  general  ordered  the  flag  to  retire  at  once 
or  he  would  fire  upon  it. 

General  Austin  lingered  hereabouts  for  a  short  time, 
hoping  that  the  Mexicans  would  sally  out  to  drive  him 
away ;  but  they  did  not,  so  he  made  camp  at  the  mill. 

This  had  brought  Sion  Bostick  and  Ernest  and  Jim 
together  again.  Sion  and  some  men  of  his  company 
secured  permission  to  try  the  little  Gonzales  six-pounder 
on  the  Alamo.  A  squad  of  them  under  Captain  Poe 
dragged  it  on  by  ropes  within  400  yards  of  the  Alamo; 
and  while  the  army  eagerly  watched  they  fired  several 
rounds.  The  solid  balls  knocked  great  puffs  of  dust  from 
the  Alamo  walls,  and  the  Alamo  cannon  replied.  No 
harm  was  done,  by  either  side,  and  presently,  after  a  waste 
of  ammunition,  the  cannon  quit. 

"  We  dusted  their  coats  for  'em,  anyway,"  proclaimed 
Sion,  returning  in  high  glee  to  Ernest.  "  And  we  col- 
lected about  a  dozen  of  their  cannon-balls.  Traded  more 
than  even." 

So  near  was  the  camp  to  the  Alamo  that  on  still  nights 
the  Mexican  sentinels  could  be  heard  crying,  shrilly,  one  to 

153 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

another:  "  Sentinela  alerte!  Sentinela  alerte !  [Sentinel 
on  the  watch!  Sentinel  on  the  watch!]  "  This  was  the 
custom  in  the  Mexican  army.  And  there  was  a  brass 
band,  whose  music,  especially  at  morning  and  evening, 
floated  across  the  space  into  the  Texan  camp. 

Deserters  from  the  town  stated  that  General  Cos  had 
sent  Colonel  Ugartechea  south  to  Laredo,  on  the  Rio 
Grande  River,  for  reinforcement.  General  Austin  kept 
cavalry  patrols  constantly  on  the  move  beyond  Be  jar,  in 
the  hope  that  the  reinforcements  could  be  cut  off.  On 
November  8,  William  House  of  Captain  William  Austin's 
company,  on  a  scout  in  search  of  the  reinforcements,  was 
chased  by  Mexican  lancers,  and  fell  from  his  horse  and 
broke  his  neck.  Jim  Hill  went  out  with  a  party  of  fifty 
men  to  bring  in  the  body,  and  had  a  story  to  tell  Ernest 
and  Sion  of  a  fight  with  250  Mexicans,  in  which  the  250 
were  well  threshed. 

Captain  Travis's  company  of  scouts  captured  thirty 
horses  that  General  Cos  had  turned  out  of  Bejar  because 
there  was  no  forage  for  them. 

Sion  Bostick's  crowd  were  given  permission  again 
to  try  the  cannon.  They  put  it  in  an  irrigating  ditch  only 
300  yards  from  the  Alamo,  and  fired  away.  This  ap- 
peared to  enrage  the  Mexicans  in  the  Alamo,  who  replied 
hotly,  and  even  shot  at  the  camp.  Several  Mexicans  on 
the  walls  of  the  Alamo  were  killed  by  Texan  sharp- 
shooters; but  the  cannon  on  both  sides  being  small,  did 
no  more  damage  than  before.  Sion  and  his  comrade 
cannoneers  could  be  seen  picking  up  the  Mexican  round- 
shot  and  loading  those  that  fitted  into  the  cannon  in  the 
ditch,  and  sending  them  back  again. 

But  all  these  scoutings  and  bombardments  were  not 
enough  for  the  Texas  volunteers.  They  wanted  to  take 
Bejar  and  be  done,  and  go  home  to  their  families  and 
crops.  Even  Jim  grew  dissatisfied,  although  he  had 
agreed  with  Ernest  and  Leo  to  "  stick/' 

"  We  didn't  enlist  for  camp  duty  and  fooling  'round/' 
154 


AN  APPEAL  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES 

he  said.  "  We  weren't  even  sworn  in.  We  just  gathered 
together  and  came  to  drive  the  Mexican  soldiers  out  of 
Texas,  so  we  could  go  home  again  for  Christmas  and  have 
a  little  peace.  We  aren't  bound  to  stay  here  this  way 
waiting.  We've  got  enough  men  to  wade  right  through 
Bejar.  Fannin  says  that  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  of 
the  proper  sort  could  do  the  business." 

"  Yes,  but  he  said  if  they  were  properly  drilled.  We 
aren't  drilled  much,"  answered  Ernest.  "The  men  are 
always  making  General  Austin  mad  by  shooting  at  marks 
around  camp  and  by  going  off  home  without  permission. 
He  says  he's  worn  out  trying  to  regulate  'em.  And  Travis 
says  we're  patriotic,  all  right,  but  we  aren't  much  more 
than  a  mob." 

"Well,  you  fellows  may  know  what  we're  fighting 
about,  but  I  don't,  and  I  don't  care,"  asserted  Sion.  "  All 
I  know  is,  we  enlisted  to  fight,  and  this  cannon-ball  busi- 
ness doesn't  amount  to  shucks.  I'll  bet  there  are  enough 
men  right  from  the  Colorado  to  drive  those  Mexicans  out 
of  Bejar  like  a  flock  of  turkeys.  They'll  shoot  cannon, 
but  they  can't  stand  rifles." 

Thus  a  spirit  of  great  discontent  was  evident  in  the 
army.  Reinforcements  in  little  squads  were  constantly 
arriving,  breathless  and  eager ;  but  other  squads  were  con- 
stantly leaving,  in  independent  fashion,  for  the  east,  with 
the  promise  that  they'd  be  back  when  they'd  "  found  things 
all  right  at  home  and  there  was  any  real  fighting."  General 
Austin  looked  more  worried  and  feeble,  as  if  indeed  worn 
out.  And  still  the  Mexican  military  band  played  de- 
fiantly, and  above  the  walls  of  the  Alamo  and  of  San 
Antonio  de  Bejar  floated  over  Texas  soil  the  green,  white 
and  red  tri-color  of  Mexico.  And  in  the  interior  of 
Mexico  General  Santa  Anna,  according  to  reports,  had 
put  down  all  opposition  to  his  military  government;  no 
help  could  be  expected  from  the  Mexican  patriots  there, 
and  he  was  assembling  an  army,  not  only  to  rescue  General 
Cos  in  San  Antonio,  but  to  conquer  the  Texas  "  rebels/' 

155 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

So  affairs  looked  rather  black,  and  Ernest,  for  one,  did 
not  see  exactly  how  they  were  going  to  turn  out,  until, 
suddenly,  into  the  camp  at  the  old  mill  rode  Leo  Roark 
and  others,  fresh  from  San  Felipe,  and  the  consultation, 
and  full  of  enthusiasm. 

"Meeting's  adjourned.  Now  where  Js  Cos?"  they 
shouted. 

"  Did  you  see  your  folks  ?  Did  you  have  any  fun  ? 
Where' ve  you  been,  all  this  time  ?  "  demanded  Jim  and 
Ernest,  rushing  to  greet  Leo. 

"  Yes,  I  saw  'em.  They're  doing  fine.  Had  some 
fun.  Heard  most  of  the  consultation,  anyhow." 

"  What'd  they  do?  "  queried  Jim. 

"  Drew  up  a  regular  declaration  of  rights,  elected 
Henry  Smith  state  governor,  Austin's  going  to  the  United 
States  to  get  money,  Sam  Houston's  commander-in-chief 
to  raise  an  army — and,"  concluded  Leo,  "  there  are  near 
two  hundred  United  States  volunteers  right  behind  us, 
now,  on  the  way  to  help  take  Bejar.  We  passed  'em 
yesterday.  Wait  a  minute  and  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it." 

"  I'll  get  Sion,"  proposed  Ernest.  "  You  know  Sion 
Bostick?" 

"  From  down  on  the  Colorado?  Yes,  I've  met  up 
with  him." 


XI 

SAM  HOUSTON  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 

"  LET'S  see/'  spoke  Leo,  after  he  had  put  up  his  horse, 
and  reported,  and  returned  wiping  his  forehead  with  a 
bandanna  handkerchief,  to  greet  Sion,  and  to  sit  down, 
surrounded  by  his  expectant  cronies,  Dick  Carroll  and 
several  others.  "  You  don't  care  anything  about  my  visit 
home.  I  was  at  the  consultation  most  of  the  time,  any- 
way, and  slept  outside,  nights,  in  my  blanket.  So  did  the 
other  fellows,  except  those  that  lived  in  the  town." 

"  Did  you  meet  up  with  any  of  my  folks  ?  "  asked  Sion. 

"  I  sure  did,  and  Jim's,  too.  They  all  sent  their  love. 
Well,  the  consultation  met  on  the  third,  in  that  little  old 
one-story  convention  hall  that  hasn't  any  ceiling.  There 
were  fifty-five  delegates,  which  didn't  leave  much  room 
for  the  rest  of  us.  But  all  the  big  men  were  there,  except 
Austin:  J.  A.  Wharton,  and  Williamson  (Three-legged 
Willie,  you  know),  and  de  Zavala,  the  patriot,  and  Captain 
Fisher,  of  Gonzales,  and  Captain  Burnam,  and  Dave 
Macomb,  and  A.  Huston,  of  San  Augustine,  and  Branch 
T.  Archer,  of  Brazoria,  and  Sam  Houston ." 

"  What'd  Sam  Houston  wear  ?  "  inquired  Dick  Carroll, 
pointedly. 

"  Buckskins  and  Mexican  blanket,  of  course/* 

"  Looked  like  the  best-dressed  man,  too ;  didn't  he  ?  " 

"  That  man  certainly  carries  his  clothes  regardless/' 
admitted  Leo.  "  You  really  don't  notice  what  he  has  on 
when  he  gets  in  action.  Well,  first  thing  they  elected 
Branch  Archer  president  of  the  meeting,  and  then  they 
appointed  Wharton  and  Houston  and  ten  others  to  draw 
up  a  declaration  that  would  tell  the  people  in  Mexico  and 
the  United  States  what  we  were  fighting  about." 

"I'd  like  to  know  that,  myself,"  invited  Sion.  "Haven't 
got  it  through  my  head  yet! " 

157 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  I  brought  a  copy  with  me,"  continued  Leo.  "  There 
were  a  thousand  printed.  Here  'tis." 

"  Let  Dick  read  it,"  proposed  somebody.  "  He's  a 
boss  reader;  never  shies  at  a  word." 

So  Dick  Carroll  took  the  handbill,  and  read : 

Declaration  of  the  People  of  Texas  in  General  Convention 
Assembled 

Whereas,  General  Antonio  Lopez  de  Santa  Anna,  and 
other  military  chieftains,  have,  by  force  of  arms,  over- 
thrown the  federal  institutions  of  Mexico,  and  dissolved 
the  social  compact  which  existed  between  Texas  and  the 
other  members  of  the  Mexican  confederacy;  now  the 
good  people  of  Texas,  availing  themselves  of  their  natural 
rights, 

Solemnly  Declare 

1st.  That  they  have  taken  up  arms  in  defense  of  their 
rights  and  liberties,  which  were  threatened  by  the  en- 
croachments of  military  despots,  and  in  defense  of  the 
republican  principles  of  the  federal  constitution  of 
Mexico,  of  eighteen  hundred  and  twenty  four. 

2nd.  That  Texas  is  no  longer  morally  or  civilly  bound 
by  the  compact  of  union;  yet,  stimulated  by  the  gener- 
osity and  sympathy  common  to  a  free  people,  they  offer 
their  support  and  assistance  to  such  of  the  members  of  the 
Mexican  confederacy  as  will  take  up  arms  against  military 
despotism. 

"  That  sounds  kind  of  patronizing,"  commented  Dick, 
interrupting  himself.  "  Some  Mexicans  mayn't  like  it — 
coming  from  Texas." 

"  Tisn't  a  declaration  of  independence,  after  all,  is 
it ! "  remarked  Sion.  "  Why  don't  we  fight  for  inde- 
pendence ?  " 

"  Well,  some  of  them  did  talk  independence,"  an- 
swered Leo.  "  But  Sam  Houston  was  against  it  and  so 
were  others,  and  it  was  voted  down,  in  favor  of  the  con- 
stitution of  1824 — thirty-three  to  fourteen.  Houston  put 
the  motion,  himself." 

158 


SAM  HOUSTON  CX)MMANDER-IN-CHIEF 

"  Go  on,  Dick,"  they  bade.     And  Dick  proceeded. 

3d.  That  they  do  not  consider  that  the  present 
authorities  of  the  nominal  Mexican  republic  have  the  right 
to  govern  within  the  limits  of  Texas. 

4th.  That  they  will  not  cease  to  carry  on  war  against 
the  said  authorities  whilst  their  troops  are  within  the 
limits  of  Texas. 

5th.  That  they  hold  it  to  be  their  right  during  the 
disorganization  of  the  federal  system,  and  the  reign  of 
despotism,  to  withdraw  from  the  union,  to  establish  an 
independent  government,  or  to  adopt  such  measures  as 
they  may  deem  best  calculated  to  protect  their  rights  and 
liberties,  but  that  they  will  continue  faithful  to  the 
Mexican  government  so  long  as  that  nation  is  governed 
by  the  constitution  and  laws  that  were  formed  for  the 
government  of  the  political  association. 

"  Comes  near  independence,  doesn't  it !  "  quoth  some- 
body. "  Just  says  if  they  won't  play  with  us  we  won't 
play  with  them !  " 

"  Merely  being  polite  about  it,  is  all,"  agreed  Dick. 
And  he  resumed. 

6th.  That  Texas  is  responsible  for  the  expenses  of 
her  armies  now  in  the  field. 

"  Glad  to  hear  that,"  was  the  interruption.  "  I've  been 
pinin'  to  know  who  was  goin'  to  pay  me  for  my  crops 
I've  lost." 

;th.  That  the  public  faith  of  Texas  is  pledged  for  the 
payment  of  any  debts  contracted  by  her  agents. 

"  Pay  in  faith,  huh?  Wall,  thar's  nothin'  else  in  the 
treasury,  that's  sartin." 

8th.  That  she  will  reward,  by  donations  in  lands,  all 
who  volunteer  their  services  in  her  present  struggle, 
and  receive  them  as  citizens. 

"  Thar's  sense  to  that.  We  got  land  a-plenty,  any- 
how." 

159 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

These  declarations  we  solemnly  avow  to  the  world, 
and  call  God  to  witness  their  truth  and  sincerity,  and 
invoke  defeat  and  disgrace  upon  our  heads,  should  we 
prove  guilty  of  duplicity. 

Dick  passed  the  handbill  around. 

"Who  wrote  that?"  he  asked,  of  Leo.  "Sounds  a 
little  like  Sam  Houston,  and  then  ag'in  it  doesn't  seem  to 
be  quite  high  and  mighty  enough.  Sam's  fond  of  big 
words." 

"  Don't  know  who  did  write  it,"  answered  Leo.  "  They 
say  there  were  four  or  five  propositions.  Austin  sent  one 
in,  favoring  the  Mexican  constitution  of  '24  and  separa- 
tion from  Coahuila.  It  was  the  mildest.  Daniel  Parker, 
of  Nacogdoches,  and  D.  C.  Barrett,  of  Mina,  had  a  couple 
of  others.  Three-legged  Willie  had  another  ready.  That 
was  the  hottest,  and  they  say  the  most  of  the  one  adopted 
is  his,  toned  down  some." 

"  Were  there  any  good  speeches  ?  " 

"  Well,  1  should  rather  reckon  there  were.  I  heard 
'em  through  a  window.  Most  of  us  outsiders  had  to  listen 
through  the  door  and  windows.  Dr.  Branch  Archer  made 
a  bully  speech,  as  president.  He  said  we  weren't  fighting 
for  ourselves  alone ;  we  were  '  laying  the  corner-stone  of 
liberty  in  the  great  Mexican  republic.'  Mr.  Royall  read 
a  letter  from  Austin,  telling  what  he  thought  the  con- 
sultation ought  to  do — and  they  pretty  nearly  did  it. 
Martin  Palmer  argufied  for  independence  and  J.  D. 
Clements,  of  Gonzales,  argufied  for  the  constitution.  Then 
J.  A.  Wharton  argufied  for  independence;  and  General 
Houston  made  the  bulliest  speech  of  all,  asking  us  all  to 
go  slow  and  work  together.  He  and  J.  A.  Wharton  almost 
had  a  fuss  over  whether  we  should  declare  for  inde- 
pendence or  the  constitution,  but  Houston  won  out,  when 
the  question  was  put,  more  than  two  to  one  for  the 
constitution." 

"They  had  as  much  trouble  as  the  first  Continental 
160 


SAM  HOUSTON  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 

Congress  did,  'long  back  there  in  1774,  when  we  all  were 
separating  from  Great  Britain,"  quoth  Dick.  "  Fact  is, 
the  colonies  were  in  about  the  same  fix  Texas  is.  What 
else  did  they  do?" 

"  Well,  they  drew  up  a  sort  of  a  constitution  to  govern 
Texas  until  things  are  settled.  They  elected  Henry 
Smith,  of  Columbia,  governor ;  he  got  thirty-one  votes  and 
Austin  got  twenty-two.  J.  W.  Robinson,  of  Nacogdoches, 
is  lieutenant  governor.  Mr.  Archer  and  W.  H.  Wharton 
and  Austin  were  appointed  commissioners  to  the  United 
States  to  get  a  loan  of  a  million.  The  capital  is  moved  to 
Brazoria.  And  Sam  Houston  was  made  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  armies  of  Texas,  with  rank  of  major-general, 
and  told  to  raise  a  regular  army  of  'leven  hundred  and 
twenty  men,  like  the  regular  army  of  the  United  States. 
Then  some  thought  of  making  Austin  commander-in- 
chief,  but  it  looked  like  he  could  do  better  work  in  the 
United  States.  Anyhow,  only  one  vote  was  cast  against 
Houston,  so  I  reckon  he's  all  right." 

"  Right ! "  exclaimed  Dick,  amidst  a  general  hum  of 
approval.  "  He's  a  soldier ;  he's  been  trained  in  soldier- 
ing. And  he's  as  big  inside  as  he  is  outside.  Austin's 
got  the  pluck,  but  he  hasn't  got  the  strength.  He's  the 
man  for  visiting  the  United  States  ;  but  Houston's  the  man 
this  kind  of  an  army  needs  in  the  field.  What  was  said 
about  the  volunteers  ?  " 

"  Well,  there  was  a  committee  report  on  us  volunteers. 
It  said  no  laws  had  been  passed  to  support  us,  but  we 
ought  to  be  treated  so  we'd  stay  out  till  enough  regulars 
had  been  raised  to  take  our  places." 

"  Is  Houston  coming  on,  did  you  hear?  " 

"  No ;  don't  reckon  he  is.  He's  got  to  hustle  'round 
and  raise  that  new  army.  But  we  don't  need  him,  or  the 
regulars  either,  do  we?  Jiminy,  you  ought  to  see  those 
New  Orleans  Grays,  from  the  United  States.  Two  com- 
panies of  fifty  men  each,  all  uniformed  in  gray  and  armed 
with  muskets  given  'em  by  Texas.  When  one  company 

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WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

passed  through  Nacogdoches  a  lot  of  Chief  Bowles's 
Cherokees  were  there.  The  Injuns'  eyes  stuck  out  and  old 
Bowles  wanted  to  know  if  these  were  '  Jackson  men  '  and 
if  any  more  were  coming.  '  Sure  they  are!'  said  Mr. 
Sterne,  who  was  the  Texas  man  that  enlisted  'em  in  New 
Orleans.  '  How  many  more  ? '  asked  old  Bowles.  '  Count 
the  hairs  on  your  head,'  said  Sterne.  Every  Injun  lit 
out  of  town  as  fast  as  he  could  go,  and  I  reckon  we  won't 
have  any  trouble  with  those  Cherokees !  " 

"  Houston'll  hold  'em  down,  anyhow,"  declared  Dick. 
"  How  close  are  those  Grays?  " 

"  Be  here  to-morrow,"  answered  Leo.  "  And  I  heard 
tell  at  San  Felipe  that  more  volunteers  are  being  enlisted 
in  Georgia,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Kentucky,  and  Ohio, 
and  everywhere.  There's  a  Mississippi  company  right 
behind  the  Grays,  and  also  a  company  from  East  Texas." 

It  certainly  seemed  good  to  have  Leo  in  camp  again. 
The  next  day  the  Grays  arrived — two  companies,  in  natty 
gray  uniforms,  marching  like  soldiers,  and  commanded 
by  Captain  Breese  and  Captain  Robert  Morris.  They 
were  welcomed  by  rounds  of  cheers,  and  were  assigned 
to  a  camping  spot.  Following  close  arrived  the  Mississippi 
company,  Captain  Peacock ;  and  the  East  Texas  company, 
Captain  English ;  and  a  twelve-pounder  cannon. 

Things  were  looking  more  lively.  To  be  sure,  counting 
the  reinforcements,  there  were  only  800  men ;  but  every 
one  appeared  ready  to  oust  those  Mexican  soldiers  from 
Bejar  immediately.  General  Austin,  too,  had  taken  heart  ; 
and  from  his  headquarters,  where  he  was  obliged  to  stay 
much  of  the  time,  ill  and  miserable,  on  this  night  of 
November  21  he  issued  the  orders  that  Bejar  was  to  be 
stormed  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  23rd. 

So  speedily  the  news  spread  through  the  camp  that 
Ernest  and  Jim  heard  it  before  they  went  to  sleep;  Leo 
heard  it,  and  so  did  Sion ;  practically  everybody  heard  it, 
from  their  officers  and  other  comrades.  San  Antonio  was 
to  be  captured  at  dawn,  on  the  day  after  to-morrow ! 

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SAM  HOUSTON  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 

"  All  right,"  said  Jim,  sleepily.     "  I  guess  we  can  do  it." 

Good  old  Jim!  But  Ernest  had  rather  a  hard  time 
drowsing  off.  He  kept  seeing  the  cannon  and  the  soldiers 
shooting  from  the  walls  and  roof-tops  of  the  Alamo  and 
of  Bejar;  and  hearing  Jim  Bowie  describe  again  how 
strong  the  fortifications  were.  However,  these  were  no 
thoughts  for  a  Texas  Volunteer.  Maybe  the  job  would 
not  be  so  difficult  as  was  imagined.  Those  Mexicans 
didn't  aim  very  straight.  Anyway — heigh-yum.  Orders 
were  orders. 

The  next  day  opened  with  excitement  and  determina- 
tion. One  after  another  the  scouting  patrols  came  riding 
in.  They  had  been  sent  for  to  join  in  the  attack.  Arms 
and  other  equipment  were  prepared ;  and  in  little  groups 
the  men  talked;  some  laughed  and  joked,  others  were 
grave,  but  all  seemed  enthusiastic. 

Then,  along  in  the  afternoon,  a  shadow  seemed  to 
pass  over  the  busy  camp.  Ernest  sensed  it ;  so  did  Jim ; 
so  did  Sion  and  Leo.  The  men  were  still  determined, 
but  the  word  was  passed  about  that  William  Wharton, 
the  judge-advocate,  and  several  other  officers  questioned 
whether  it  was  wise  to  storm  the  fortifications,  quite  yet — 
and  that  Sam  Houston,  the  new  commander-in-chief,  had 
written  a  letter  advising  against  it. 

"  He  says  it'll  take  two  thousand  men,"  was  the  report. 
"  He  ought  to  know — he's  a  military  man.  Austin  isn't 
commander-in-chief  any  longer." 

"  Maybe  we  ought  to  wait  for  him." 

"  Maybe  we  ought  to  wait  for  more  reinforcements." 

"If  we're  going  to  wait,  we  needn't  wait  in  this  place. 
I  don't  want  to  camp  out  in  many  more  northers.  I  near 
plumb  froze." 

"  Those  fellows  make  me  tired,"  complained  Jim. 
"  They've  been  itching  to  fight  and  be  done,  and  now 
they're  kicking.  What  do  we  care  about  Houston 
and  Wharton  and  the  rest?  We've  got  enough  men  to 
take  Bejar.  Houston  isn't  there  and  we  are." 

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WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Late  that  afternoon  it  was  rumored  that  John  W. 
Smith,  an  American  surveyor  of  Be  jar,  had  smuggled 
out  to  General  Austin  a  complete  plan  of  the  fortifications 
in  the  town,  and  that  Dr.  James  Grant,  another  engineer, 
had  pronounced  them  excellent  as  a  guide. 

In  spite  of  the  grumblings,  the  two  divisions  of  the 
army  were  paraded  under  arms  and  inspected,  at  sun- 
down ;  General  Austin  made  a  speech  of  encouragement ; 
and  upon  dismissal  the  company  commanders  were  ordered 
to  turn  their  commands  out  before  dawn  and  assemble 
them  at  the  old  mill  at  three  o'clock. 

After  the  dismissal  of  the  parade,  another  strange 
thing  occurred.  Sion  trudged  over  from  his  mess,  in  the 
dark,  against  orders,  to  debate  the  matter  with  his  two 
cronies.  In  fact,  the  whole  camp  was  uneasy,  and  sleep- 
ing not  at  all. 

"  Hello,"  greeted  Sion.  "  Say,  did  you  fellows  get 
asked  by  any  officer  whether  you'd  attack  Bejar  or  not?  " 

"  We  sure  did,"  responded  Jim.  "  And  we  said  *  yes/ 
But  a  lot  of  'em  crawfished.  I  reckon  we're  going,  just 
the  same." 

"  I  dunno,"  opposed  Sion,  gloomily.  "  A  lot  of  our 
fellows  are  on  the  fence,  too.  They  think  maybe  we're 
in  a  little  too  much  hurry — had  better  wait  a  bit  and  make 
certain  with  more  troops  and  cannon  that  Houston's  col- 
lecting. If  we  got  wiped  out  in  this  one  scrimmage  that'd 
hold  Texas  for  a  while.  Santa  Anna'd  simply  smother 
what  was  left  of  us,  and  we'd  never  have  another  chance. 
Well,  I  can't  stay.  I'm  supposed  to  be  where  I  belong, 
ready  for  three  o'clock.  See  you  in  the  morning."  And 
he  trudged  away. 

"  Shucks ! "  muttered  Jim.  "  Looks  as  if  we  were 
going  to  back  water,  after  all.  Isn't  this  the  funniest 
army  you  ever  were  in  ?  " 

"  I  should  say,"  agreed  Ernest — which  was  very  true 
"  Wonder  if  they're  the  same  in  Leo's  company?  " 

"  It  would  be  pretty  hard  on  Texas  families  to  have 
164 


SAM  HOUSTON  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 

their  men  folks  killed  and  nothing  gained/'  mused  Jim. 
"  I  guess  I  don't  blame  some  of  the  troops  for  having 
two  minds,  now  when  it  comes  to  the  scratch  and  the  odds 
are  so  big  against  us.  If  we  didn't  take  Be  jar — whew ! 
For  we'd  all  fight  till  we  were  dead,  that's  sure." 

Shortly  after  midnight  Ernest  was  aroused  from  an 
uneasy  sleep  by  a  fresh  stir  among  the  prone  lines.  This 
is  what  had  happened :  Lieutenant-Colonel  Philip  Sublett, 
who  now  commanded  their  division,  the  second  (for 
Colonel  Bowie  was  already  under  orders  to  take  dispatches 
to  Goliad) ,  had  awakened  General  Austin,  at  headquarters, 
and  had  told  him  that  the  majority  of  the  second  division 
were  in  favor  of  postponing  the  attack.  General  Austin 
had  sent  for  Colonel  Ed.  Burleson,  of  the  First  Division, 
and  inquired  of  him;  and  Colonel  Burleson  had  made  a 
similar  report. 

Now  Mr.  Frank  W.  Johnson,  the  adjutant-general,  was 
investigating  for  the  general,  to  make  certain;  he  was 
inquiring  among  the  company  officers.  As  the  result,  at 
three  o'clock  the  companies,  instead  of  being  paraded  for 
the  attack,  were  ordered  to  stay  as  they  were.  There 
would  be  no  attack.  Colonel  Burleson  had  offered  to  lead 
his  division,  anyway — that  is,  as  many  as  would  follow 
him;  and  the  New  Orleans  Grays  and  the  other  United 
States  volunteers  were  ready ;  but  the  Texan  volunteers — 
shucks,  as  said  Jim. 

Leo  and  Sion  and  Jim  and  Ernest  gathered  after 
breakfast  and  talked  the  matter  over.  The  whole  camp 
was  talking  and  arguing. 

"  You  fellows  in  your  division  aren't  worth  sour 
apples !  "  accused  Leo,  hotly,  of  Sion.  "  First  you  wanted 
to  fight,  and  now  you  don't." 

"  We  aren't  any  worse  than  you  are  in  your  division," 
retorted  Sion.  "  Your  colonel  reported  first.  Burleson 
said  he'd  lead  us — as  many  as  would  go." 

"  According  to  the  tell,"  spoke  Jim,  "there  aren't  more 
than  a  hundred  of  the  Texan  volunteers  who  would  go." 

165 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  Well,  I'd  go,"  asserted  Leo.  "  But  there  are  a  lot 
of  us  fellows  who  have  our  families  to  think  of.  We 
didn't  come  here  to  be  killed  if  we  could  do  just  as  much 
without  being  killed.  We  thought  there'd  be  a  bigger 
army.  I  tell  you,  this  is  a  serious  proposition,  to  send 
only  eight  hundred  men,  just  volunteers,  against  a  fort 
with  plenty  cannon  and  upward  of  a  thousand  trained 
regulars." 

"  This  army's  figuring  too  close,"  blurted  Sion. 
"  We've  hung  'round  here  so  long  that  we've  talked  our- 
selves tired,  and  some  of  our  best  men  have  gone  home." 

"  It's  pretty  tough  on  General  Austin,"  proposed 
Ernest.  "  He's  about  sick  over  it — and  he  was  sick 
anyway." 

"  That's  so,"  agreed  they  all.  "  First  we  were  sore 
because  he  wouldn't  let  us  attack  Be  jar,  and  now  we  won't 
attack  it  when  he  tells  us  to !  " 

"  He'll  have  to  leave  us,  anyway,  and  go  to  the  United 
States,"  remarked  Leo.  "  Expect  he'd  like  to  have  fin- 
ished this  job  first,  though." 

This  day  a  council  of  war  was  held,  and  was  reported 
to  have  about  decided  that  if  Bejar  did  not  surrender  be- 
fore winter  set  in,  the  army  ought  to  be  moved  into  winter 
quarters  at  Goliad,  where  there  were  provisions  and  shel- 
ter. The  next  day,  which  was  the  24th,  a  general  parade 
was  ordered,  at  which  General  Austin  made  a  farewell 
address.  He  said  that  he  was  required  by  the  Texas 
government  to  leave  at  once,  and  visit  the  United  States, 
to  raise  money  for  the  Texan  cause.  But  he  requested 
that  his  going  should  make  no  difference  in  the  plans 
against  Bejar;  he  hoped  that  the  army  would  stay  right 
there,  and  press  the  siege  hard,  until  General  Cos  either 
surrendered  or  else  was  so  weakened  that  a  short  attack 
would  end  matters  in  a  hurry. 

He  complained  or  scolded  not  by  a  word  or  gesture, 
did  General  Austin,  and  the  troops  showed  their  love  for 
him  by  volleys  of  cheers. 

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SAM  HOUSTON  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 

When  he  had  finished,  Adjutant-general  Johnson  called 
for  all  those  men  who  would  pledge  themselves  to  stay 
before  Bejar  until  it  was  taken  to  step  forward.  For- 
ward stepped,  at  once,  more  than  half  the  army :  Jim  and 
Ernest,  side  by  side,  and  Dick  Carroll  and  almost  all  the 
Gonzales  and  Colorado  men ;  the  Brazos  companies ;  and 
over  in  the  First  Division  Sion,  too  (as  Ernest  wagered 
with  himself),  among  the  others. 

Colonel  Burleson  was  immediately  elected  commander 
to  succeed  General  Austin.  On  the  morning  after  the 
parade  and  the  farewell  address  General  Austin  left  for 
his  home  in  San  Felipe;  thence  to  report  to  Governor 
Smith  and  proceed  with  the  two  other  commissioners  to 
the  United  States. 

Everybody  had  confidence  in  General  Burleson,  and 
he  had  been  unanimously  elected.  But  now  the  army 
did  not  seem  to  know  what  they  would  like.  Things  were 
at  sixes  and  sevens.  Some  of  the  men  still  wanted  to 
storm  Bejar ;  others  wanted  to  wait ;  others  wanted  to  go 
home  until  the  regulars  were  organized.  Even  the  volun- 
teers from  the  United  States  were  dissatisfied,  and  claimed 
that  Texas  had  called  them  in  under  false  pretences — 
they  had  been  promised  fighting  and  glory,  and  they  were 
getting  nothing  of  the  kind. 

To  be  sure,  on  the  next  day,  November  26th,  there 
was  a  smart  little  battle,  by  accident.  About  two  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  Deaf  Smith  came  at  a  gallop  into  camp, 
with  the  alarm  that  he  had  spied  Ugartechea,  at  last, 
approaching  Bejar  from  the  other  side,  with  a  mule  train 
of  money  for  the  Mexican  soldiers. 

Now  the  camp  woke  up  in  a  hurry ;  orders  to  "  Fall 
in !  Fall  in !  "  echoed  right  and  left ;  there  was  a  great 
scramble  for  guns  and  horses,  and  everybody  yelled 
"  Ugartechea !  All  out'  to  capture  Ugartechea !  "  Away 
sped  Colonel  Bowie  with  a  troop — Deaf  Smith  guiding; 
and  as  fast  as  they  could  the  main  army  followed  after,  the 
New  Orleans  Grays  and  the  Mississippians  under  Cap- 

167 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

tain  Peacock  being  especially  eager  to  show  what  they 
could  do. 

When  Ernest  and  Jim,  in  the  Captain  Dickinson  com- 
pany with  the  main  army,  arrived  near  the  place  told  of 
by  Deaf  Smith,  the  firing  had  begun.  Colonel  Bowie's 
troop  already  had  charged,  and  the  Mexicans  were  fighting 
back  from  an  arroyo,  or  dry  stream-bed.  A  detachment 
of  other  Mexicans  were  hastening  out  from  Be  jar,  which 
was  only  a  mile  away ;  and  Colonel  Bowie  had  been  forced 
to  turn  and  try  to  stop  them. 

It  looked  like  quite  a  "  scrimmage,"  as  Jim  expressed. 

"  Forward,  boys !  Don't  let  Bowie  do  it  all,"  urged 
young  Captain  Dickinson. 

The  horses  broke  into  a  gallop;  the  infantry  into  a 
run ;  and  with  wild  cheers  forward  raced  the  Texan  army. 
But  the  Mexicans  in  the  arroyo  had  united  with  the  rescu- 
ing party,  and  both  were  retreating  for  the  town. 

"  They've  left  their  pack-mules  and  panniers,  anyhow/' 
panted  Jim.  "  We'll  get  the  treasure.  Hooray !  " 

"  Hooray !  Hooray !  "  cheered  all,  riding,  running,  and 
firing. 

The  Mexicans  were  dropping ;  some  of  the  fallen  were 
picked  up  and  carried  on;  others  were  left;  the  retreat 
became  a  rout,  and  helter-skelter  the  survivors  gained, 
just  in  nick  of  time,  the  shelter  of  the  town.  It  was  esti- 
mated that  they  had  lost  fifty  killed,  and  as  many  wounded. 
No  one  was  killed,  on  the  Texan  side,  and  only  two 
wounded. 

"  Who  says  we  can't  take  Be  jar  if  we  want  to  ?  " 
bragged  Leo,  as  his  company  joined  with  Jim's  and 
Ernest's,  and  the  horses  puffed  together. 

"  Toler'ble  easy,  toler'ble  easy,"  grinned  Jim.  "  Reckon 
you  and  I  and  Ernest  and  Sion  could  take  it  ourselves, 
some  day  when  we  were  feeling  right  pert." 

"  But  I  didn't  see  Ugartechea ;  did  you  ?  "  demanded 
Ernest. 

"  No.   We'll  see  what's  in  those  mule  panniers,  though, 

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SAM  HOUSTON  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 

I'd  surely  admire  to  get  a  few  pesos  to  spend.    Need  it 
more  than  those  Mexican  soldados." 

Hopes  ran  high,  for  the  mule  panniers  (pairs  of  wicker 
baskets)  looked  bulky.  But  when  they  were  felt,  by  the 
officers,  they  felt  suspiciously  soft;  and  when  they  were 
"  hefted/'  they  felt  suspiciously  light.  And  when  one 
was  opened,  on  the  spot,  it  contained  only  freshly  cut 
grass. 

At  camp  was  it  found  that  they  all  contained  nothing 
but  grass — forage  for  the  Cos  horses.  So  the  "  Grass 
Fight "  was  this  "  scrimmage  "  dubbed,  and  many  were 
the  jokes  levelled  at  Deaf  Smith. 

"  Shows  that  Cos  is  getting  mighty  hard  up  for  fodder, 
anyhow,"  commented  Leo,  when  the  boys  met  in  camp. 
"  First  he  tried  to  get  rid  of  thirty  horses,  to  save  feed, 
and  now  he's  having  to  send  out  and  cut  grass." 

Despite  such  proof  of  the  straits  of  the  garrison  in 
Bejar,  the  Texan  army  continued  rather  disgruntled.  The 
excitement  over  the  Grass  Fight  soon  passed.  Dr.  James 
Grant  headed  a  scheme  to  march  down  to  Matamoros  in 
Mexico  across  the  Rio  Grande,  and  capture  it,  and  con- 
tinue on.  Over  200  of  the  men  agreed  to  enlist  under 
him ;  they  said  that  150  others  were  coming  from  the 
United  States  to  join  them  on  the  way,  and  that  several 
thousand  Mexican  patriots  were  waiting  to  help.  Jim 
and  Ernest  talked  the  matter  over,  and  decided  that  they'd 
"  stick,"  just  the  same.  Sion  and  Leo  said  they'd  stick, 
too.  But  the  Grant  plan  looked  very  inviting. 

Then,  on  December  3rd,  from  Bejar  arrived  three 
more  Americans.  They  were  Sam  Maverick,  and  Mr. 
Holmes  and  John  W.  Smith,  who,  having  been  prisoners 
all  this  time,  had  run  the  sentries  and  escaped.  They 
asserted  that  Bejar  was  ready  to  fall;  the  troops  there 
were  pinched  for  supplies,  and  were  so  frightened  that 
they  couldn't  half  fight — didn't  want  to  fight,  either.  The 
way  the  Texans  charged  had  scared  them  half  to  death. 

Great  news  was  this;  and  when  that  night  another 
169 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

council  of  war  was  held  at  General  Burleson's  tent,  an 
assault  seemed  certainly  being  planned,  and  daybreak  of 
the  next  morning  was  rumored  as  the  probable  time. 

Again  the  camp  was  stirred,  and  little  sleep  was 
possible. 

"  We're  going  to  attack  at  daylight!  " 

"Captain  Dickinson  says  we're  going  to  attack  at 
daybreak ! " 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

"  Well,  that's  the  tell." 

"  Haven't  had  any  orders,  have  we  ?  " 

"  Don't  need  'em.  We'll  just  r'ar  up  and  fight  and  then 
eat  breakfast." 

"  Eat  grass,  you  mean." 

They  were  going  to  fight.  They  weren't  going  to  fight. 
Until  Jim  growled  to  Ernest : 

"  Aw,  blame  it  all !    Let's  sleep  first  and  then  fight." 

The  report  passed  around  that  volunteers  were  to  be 
led  in  three  columns,  guided  by  Deaf  Smith,  John  W. 
Smith  (the  engineer),  and  Henry  Arnold.  Nearly  all 
night  the  light  burned  in  the  headquarters  tent,  where 
sat  the  council  of  war.  But  with  dawn,  when  the  orders 
to  advance  should  have  been  given,  instead  there  came  the 
announcement  that  the  attack  had  been  postponed  once 
more!  Henry  Arnold,  the  guide,  had  disappeared,  and 
probably  had  deserted,  to  warn  the  garrison ! 

"  Take  Be  jar  anyway,  and  hang  Arnold !  "  spread  the 
angry  cry. 

"  Traitor !    The  first  Texas  traitor !  " 

"Bejar!    Bejar!" 

"  Boys ! "  called  a  Texan,  striding  rapidly  through  the 
Captain  Dickinson  company's  camp,  "  it's  all  off.  We're 
to  quit  and  go  into  winter  quarters  at  Goliad.  Get  our 
orders  this  afternoon.  I've  just  learned  that  straight, 
and  I  know" 

Ernest  and  Jim  stared  at  one  another. 

"  Qh,  thunder! "  gasped  Jim.    "  Quit,  and  squat  some 
170 


SAM  HOUSTON  COJSIMANDER-IN-CHIEF 

more  ?     If  it  hadn't  have  been  for  that  Arnold 1    Let's 

rind  Leo  and  Sion." 

They  found  Leo  and  Sion,  who  had  heard  the  same 
news. 

"  I'll  go  to  Matamoros,  then,"  vowed  Leo.  "  Or  else 
I'll  stay  home.  But  you  can  bet  that  I  don't  sit  in  that 
Goliad  all  winter." 

They  agreed  on  Matamoros ;  and  many  were  the  other 
protests,  on  every  side.  But  sure  enough,  at  two  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  the  orders  were  issued  for  the  camp  to 
break  up  and  march  on  the  back  trail  at  seven  o'clock  that 
evening.  The  siege  of  Bejar  was  to  be  raised. 

Sullenly  and  regretfully  the  men  went  about  their 
tasks  of  preparing  to  leave — when  suddenly,  toward  sun- 
down, Leo  came  running  and  excited  to  where  Ernest 
and  Jim  sat  rebelliously  putting  last  patches  on  their  boots, 
for  the  prospective  journey. 

"  Hurry  up !  "  bade  Leo.  "  To  headquarters,  quick ! 
Arnold's  back,  and  a  Mexican  deserter,  and  there's  some- 
thing going  on.  If  you  don't  get  there  you'll  be  too  late." 

Away  they  dashed,  following  the  generous  Leo.  Be- 
fore the  tent  of  General  Burleson  a  considerable  crowd 
had  gathered.  Sion  was  there,  of  course;  and  Dick 
Carroll,  and  Henry  Karnes,  and  Captain  Dickinson,  and 
Captain  Travis,  and  many  others.  Colonel  Milam  could 
be  glimpsed,  inside  the  tent,  where  voices  were  arguing. 

"  Arnold's  all  right,"  informed  Sion.  "  He  was  just 
scouting  'round,  preliminary,  and  met  up  with  that  Mexi- 
can lieutenant  deserting  to  us,  and  fetched  him  along  in. 
The  lieutenant  says  Bejar  is  our  meat — busted  wide  open, 
and  Cos  can't  hardly  hold  his  men  together.  And  they 
don't  suspect  any  attack." 

At  that  moment  Colonel  Milam  abruptly  stepped  out, 
through  the  tent  flaps.  He  faced  the  crowd,  and  snatching 
off  his  wide-brimmed  hat  swung  it  high. 

"  Who  will  go  with  old  Ben  Milam  into  San  Antonio?  " 
he  shouted. 

171 


XII 
HOUSE  TO  HOUSE  IN  OLD  BEJAR 

"  WHO  will  go  with  old  Ben  Milam  into  San  Antonio  ?  " 

A  murmur  welling  to  an  eager  cry  answered  him. 

"  Form  in  line,  volunteers/'  was  the  order. 

The  crowd  jostled  into  place.  Other  men  came  run- 
ning. Ernest  found  himself  in  line  beside  Jim ;  and  some- 
where, down  the  line,  were,  he  felt  certain,  Leo  and  Sion. 

Colonel  Milam,  and  Frank  Johnson,  the  acting 
adjutant-general,  passed  along,  counting  off  the  men. 
There  were  talking  and  laughing  and  enthusiasm.  General 
Burleson  stood  in  the  tent  flaps,  looking  out,  surveying. 

"  San  Antonio  for  winter  quarters !  Not  Goliad !  " 
called  several  voices  to  him.  He  smiled;  evidently  they 
all  had  his  permission. 

"  Whom'll  you  have  for  commander,  boys  ?  "  asked 
Colonel  Milam. 

"  You !   You !    Milam  for  commander !    Ben  Milam !  " 

And  rose  the  shouts,  widely  repeated :  "  Milam ! 
Milam!" 

Captain  Dickinson  sprang  to  the  front. 

"  All  in  favor  of  Ben  Milam  as  commander  to  storm 
San  Antonio  step  one  pace  forward !  " 

Forward  stepped  officers  and  men. 

"  Reckon  that's  unanimous,"  laughed  Captain  Dickin- 
son, saluting  Colonel  Ben. 

"  The  volunteers  who  wish  to  form  the  force  for  an 
immediate  entrance  into  Bejar  will  meet  this  evening  at 
dark  at  the  mill,  where  arrangements  will  be  completed," 
announced  Colonel  Milam.  "  You  are  now  dismissed. 
The  officers  will  please  remain." 

With  a  hearty  cheer  the  ranks  broke,  and  the  men 
hastened  to  their  company  quarters  to  spread  the  word 
and  to  make  their  preparations. 

172 


HOUSE  TO  HOUSE  IN  OLD  BEJAR 

"  We're  sure  going  to  take  Bejar  this  time,"  exulted 
Jim,  as  he  and  Ernest  hurried  back,  amidst  other  figures 
likewise  hurrying. 

"  We  are  if  we  can/'  agreed  Ernest,  but  not  quite  so 
dead  certain. 

"Aw,  they  can't  keep  us  out,  if  once  we  get  In," 
declared  Jim.  They  overtook  Sion  and  Leo. 

"  You  fellows  in  on  this?  " 

"  Well,  I  should  say !  "  asserted  Leo. 

"  Wouldn't  miss  it  for  all  Texas,"  added  Sion. 

"  That's  what  it  means — all  Texas,"  answered  Jim. 
"  So  long.  See  you  later."  And  they  separated. 

Already  it  was  dusk ;  the  time  for  the  rendezvous  at 
the  old  mill  was  near.  Jim  and  Ernest  rapidly  overhauled 
their  guns  and  ammunition,  and  stuffed  some  beef  and 
bread  into  their  pockets.  Other  volunteers  were  doing 
likewise.  The  camp  was  in  a  fever  of  anticipation.  Now 
nobody  hung  back.  The  rank  and  file  had  been  inspired 
by  Ben  Milam's  ringing  challenge.  This  sudden  action 
had  been  just  the  thing  needed. 

"  Come  on.  Let's  go,"  urged  Ernest,  as  he  noted  men, 
by  twos  and  threes,  trudging  away,  well  armed,  for  the  mill. 

"All  right.  I'm  with  you,"  assented  Jim.  "No 
horses,  I  reckon.  This  is  a  foot  job." 

Equipped  for  service,  they  joined  the  crowd  at  the  old 
mill,  around  which  camp  had  been  established.  Here  they 
found  Sion,  with  his  long  Kentucky  rifle. 

"Where's  Leo?"  asked  Ernest.  "Thought  he  was 
with  you." 

"  Naw,"  said  Sion.  "  They've  taken  him  with  that 
Alamo  bunch.  He's  sore,  too,  but  he  had  to  go." 

"  What  bunch  is  that?  "  demanded  Jim,  alert. 

"  A  battalion  under  Colonel  Neill.  They'll  make  a 
feint  on  the  Alamo  while  we're  marching  on  the  town. 
But  they  may  have  to  do  some  fighting,  just  the  same. 
Leo'd  a  heap  rather  be  with  us,  though." 

That  was  too  bad.    Still,  a  soldier  must  obey  orders. 
173 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Men  continued  to  gather,  until  there  were  301,  from 
half  a  dozen  of  the  Texas  companies,  and  from  the  New 
Orleans  Grays  and  Captain  Peacock's  Mississippians. 
They  were  told  off  into  two  columns,  one  under  Colonel 
Milam  and  the  other  under  Adjutant-General  Frank 
Johnson.  Colonel  Franks,  of  the  artillery,  and  Major 
Morris,  who  had  been  captain  of  the  Grays,  were  appointed 
aides  to  Colonel  Milam;  the  General  Johnson  aides  were 
Colonel  James  Grant,  the  doctor  and  land  owner  of 
Coahuila,  and  Colonel  William  T.  Austin,  who  was  a 
distant  kin  of  Stephen  Austin. 

The  Captain  Dickinson  men  were  assigned  to  the  first 
column — and  right  glad  was  Ernest  to  follow  Ben  Milam, 
although  Frank  Johnson  was  a  good  fighter,  too.  After 
having  been  detailed  off,  the  volunteers  were  dismissed, 
with  instructions  to  fall  in  again  an  hour  before  daylight, 
without  horses. 

"  Which  column  you  fellows  with  ?  "  queried  Sion,  as 
on  the  way  back  to  their  beds  he  joined  his  two  chums. 

"  We're  under  Milam,"  informed  Ernest. 

"  Shucks !"  deplored  Sion.  "  I'm  under  Johnson  but  he's 
all  right  We've  got  the  Grays,  and  those  Mississippians." 

"  We've  got  English's  East  Texans,  and  Henry  Karnes, 
and  the  Gonzales  company,"  retorted  Jim.  "  Who  are 
your  guides  ?  " 

"  Deaf  Smith  and  John  W.  Smith,"  answered  Sion. 

"  Ours  are  Sam  Maverick  and  Hendrick  Arnold  and 
John  Cooke." 

"  Guess  they  know  the  town,"  said  Sion.  "  But  I'd 
rather  have  Deaf  Smith  than  anyone." 

"  He's  no  better  than  Karnes,"  argued  Jim. 

"  They're  both  some  scouts,"  admitted  Sion.  "  Well, 
I'm  going  to  bed.  We'll  meet  up  in  the  morning,  maybe. 
Or  else  in  town." 

"  So  long,"  bade  Jim  and  Ernest. 

At  this  stage  of  army  life  Ernest  could  go  to  sleep  at 
almost  any  time.  He  and  Jim  speedily  rolled  themselves 

174 


HOUSE  TO  HOUSE  IN  OLD  BEJAB 

in  their  blankets,  and  without  much  ado  caught  at  least 
forty  winks ;  and  forty  winks  only  did  it  seem  to  Ernest, 
when  in  the  darkness  and  the  chill  of  the  hour  preceding 
dawn  he  was  awakened  by  the  word  passed  along  the 
lines.  He  and  Jim  quickly  drew  on  their  boots,  donned 
coats  and  hats,  belts  and  ammunition,  seized  their  rifles 
and  were  ready. 

Coffee  was  served  from  the  mess  pots,  and  at  the  old 
mill  the  two  columns  were  formed  by  low  orders.  A 
number  of  crowbars  were  handed  around. 

It  was  reported  that  the  Colonel  Neill  battalion,  to  make 
the  pretense  of  attacking  the  Alamo,  had  gone.  General 
Burleson  had  agreed  to  hold  the  reserve  of  the  army  in 
camp,  in  case  that  they  might  be  needed  in  the  fight,  or 
in  case  that  the  Mexicans  might  attempt  a  counter-attack 
to  cut  the  camp  off,  and  seize  it  and  the  supplies. 

The  order  to  advance  was  given ;  and  side  by  side,  in 
silence,  except  for  the  shuffle  of  feet  on  the  moist  turf, 
the  two  columns  moved  forward  through  the  misty  murk, 
Colonel  Milam  and  General  Johnson,  with  their  aides, 
leading ;  and  the  guides  ahead,  aiming  for  the  easiest  and 
surest  approaches.  Behind  followed  the  Gonzales  six- 
pounder  and  the  twelve-pounder  cannon  drawn  by  the 
artillerymen.  The  other  six-pounder  had  been  taken  by 
Colonel  Neill. 

On  the  right  the  Alamo  slumbered  in  darkness.  Pres- 
ently, before,  loomed  through  the  gloom  the  low  walls  of 
San  Antonio.  "  Sentinela  alerte !  "  sang  the  sentinels. 

"  They'll  sing  a  different  tune  in  a  minute/'  whispered 
Jim  to  Ernest. 

"  Shut  up,  there !  "  ordered  a  corporal.    Jim  chuckled. 

The  columns  diverged,  one  from  the  other.  The  first 
column  wended  a  little  to  the  right,  the  second  column  kept 
on  to  the  left,  and  Sion  was  gone  with  it. 

A  number  of  little  Mexican  huts  were  passed ;  the  occu- 
pants did  not  awake,  and  neither  did  their  dogs.  How 
quiet  everything  was !  But  the  east  was  graying,  the  gloom 

175 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

was  thinning,  and  the  day  of  December  5  was  about  to 
dawn.     Ernest  shivered  with  the  suspense.     Then 

"  Boom !  "  rolled  a  cannon  shot,  far  on  t'  ie  left.  And — 
"  Boom! "  again.  The  heavy  air  jarred  with  the  shock. 
Colonel  Neill  was  attacking  the  Alamo!  Distant  bugles 
pealed,  calling  the  Alamo  to  arms;  muskets,  of  the  sen- 
tries, began  to  speak ;  the  uproar  rapidly  increased.  Lights 
began  to  appear  in  San  Antonio. 

"  Hurry  up,  boys !  "  passed  the  word ;  and  the  column 
quickened  its  pace. 

Now  they  were  in  a  street,  a  straight,  wide  street 
bordered  by  the  low  stone-and-plaster  houses.  Acequia 
Street,  it  was,  according  to  report.  Sam  Maverick  and 
the  other  guides  knew  it  well ;  it  conducted  through  to  the 
main  plaza.  The  General  Johnson  column  had  taken  the 
next  street  on  the  left — Soledad  Street. 

Ernest's  heart  beat  high.  Were  the  Mexicans  going 
to  let  them  all  march  right  through  ?  No !  The  town  was 
thoroughly  awake.  Lights  flickered  before ;  dogs  barked 
furiously;  voices  of  women  and  children  called  shrilly; 
and  "  Whang ! "  spoke  the  musket  of  a  sentry,  in  the 
direction  of  the  other  column.  "  Crack !  "  answered  at 
once  a  rifle.  Deaf  Smith,  they  heard  later,  had  shot  the 
sentry  dead.  But  bugles  were  sounding.  The  town  was 
alarmed  at  last. 

Up  came  the  cannon,  hauled  by  the  panting  cannoneers ; 
and  back  ran  an  aide — Major  Morris. 

"  Sappers  to  the  front !  "  he  shouted,  tensely,  waving 
his  sword.  "  Break  into  this  house.  Hurry  up !  " 

To  the  house  on  the  left  side  of  the  street  hustled  Henry 
Karnes  and  the  crowbar  squad.  The  house  stood  on  a 
corner,  and  occupied  the  block.  It  was  a  large  house. 

"  Get  behind  it,  boys !  Watch  out  for  the  cannon," 
sped  the  cry ;  for  Deaf  Smith  and  others  who  had  been  in 
the  town  had  described  how  the  cannon  in  the  main  plaza 
and  the  military  plaza  were  pointed  down  the  principal 
streets. 

176 


HOUSE  TO  HOUSE  IN  OLD  BEJAR 

Into  the  cross-street  scampered  the  column,  deploying 
to  cover  the  plaza  streets  on  either  side,  and  keeping  close 
in  the  shelter  of  the  house  walls.  There  was  a  heavy 
report,  and  another,  and  through  the  two  streets  swept  a 
deluge  of  grape  from  the  Mexican  artillery ;  but  it  swept 
without  harm.  Now  all  the  town  was  aroused ;  the  fight 
was  on;  and  in  the  distance  sounded  the  attack  on  the 
Alamo. 

Henry  Karnes  and  his  squad  were  fiercely  plying  their 
crowbars.  The  stone  walls  were  thick  and  tough,  but  the 
mortar  flew  in  a  shower  of  dust  and  chunks.  This  was  the 
rear  of  the  house — Don  Antonio  de  la  Garza's  house,  said 
somebody.  There  was  a  stout  wooden  door  here,  but  no 
windows.  The  house  was  built  in  "  U  "  shape,  enclosing 
a  court  which  was  shut  from  the  street  by  a  wall,  of 
course,  Mexican  fashion.  The  main  entrance  was  on 
another  side. 

However,  rear  or  front,  who  cared  ?  With  a  warning 
cheer  a  second  squad  came  running,  bearing  a  log  battering- 
ram.  It  crashed  against  the  wooden  door.  Inside  the 
house,  women  and  children  were  shrieking.  From  across 
Soledad  Street,  to  the  left,  sounded  the  dull  thuds  of 
crowbar  and  battering  ram  wielded  by  the  Johnson  column, 
who  were  breaking  into  another  house. 

The  de  la  Garza  wall  was  crumbling;  the  door  was 
trembling  to  the  crashing  blows  of  the  log. 

"  Listen  to  'em,  inside !  "  shouted  Jim,  in  Ernest's  ear ; 
and  Ernest  nodded.  That  family  were  well  frightened, 
and  no  wonder,  with  all  this  clamor  of  bugles  and  shouting 
and  cheering  and  bellowing  cannon  and  blows  from  crow- 
bar and  battering-ram. 

Inward  spun  the  door,  wrenched  from  bar,  lock  and 
hinge ;  and  a  jagged  hole  had  appeared  in  the  stone  wall. 

"  In  with  you !  "  were  the  orders ;  and  through  door- 
way and  hole  dived,  pell-mell,  the  column.  Breathless,  but 
with  not  a  man  harmed,  they  swarmed  through  the  rooms. 

The  house  was  empty,  but  the  couches  were  still  warm 
177 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

from  recent  bodies,  and  articles  of  wearing  apparel  were 
scattered  here  and  there.  The  family  evidently  had  fled 
in  their  night  garments. 

"  We  certainly  smoked  'em  out,"  remarked  Jim,  as  he 
and  Ernest  were  borne  onward  by  the  rush  of  the  men 
seeking  positions. 

It  did  not  take  long  to  occupy  the  house.  Some  doors 
had  been  locked  as  the  family  fled,  but  these  were  battered 
down  in  short  order.  Window  shutters  were  pierced  and 
loopholes  hacked  in  the  mortar,  and  squads  stationed  at 
these,  and  on  the  roof.  By  the  crackling,  increasing  fire 
at  the  left,  was  it  known  that  the  Johnson  column  had 
broken  into  the  big  house  opposite,  across  Soledad  Street ; 
the  house  of  Don  Juan  Veramendi,  former  vice-governor 
of  Coahuila  and  Texas,  whose  daughter  Jim  Bowie  had 
married ! 

Now  gray  daylight  had  arrived,  and  rifles  were  crack- 
ing ever  more  briskly,  as  the  Texans  from  their  roofs  and 
loopholes  sought  to  pick  off  the  Mexican  gunners  at  the 
street  ends,  and  replied  to  the  Mexican  musketeers  on  the 
other  roof-tops.  The  reports  from  the  direction  of  the 
Alamo  had  lessened,  as  if  Colonel  Neill  had  withdrawn, 
after  his  feint  to  distract  attention  from  the  attack  on 
Bejar.  The  two  cannon  brought  into  town  also  were 
silent.  The  twelve-pounder  had  been  fired  once  or  twice 
and  then  had  been  knocked  off  its  carriage  by  the  Mexican 
cannon ;  and  the  six-pounder  could  not  be  served  without 
some  sort  of  a  barricade  to  protect  its  gunners. 

"  Well,  we're  in,  anyhow,"  asserted  Jim,  as  with  Ernest 
he  peered  through  their  loophole,  trying  to  find  a  mark. 
"  We'll  just  keep  burrowing  along." 

"  How  far  to  the  plazas?  "  asked  Ernest. 

"  Not  far.  Only  about  a  block,  where  that  church 
tower  is.  Jiminy!  See  the  flag  on  it?  Red  flag!  That 
means  no  quarter.  But  we  don't  care." 

The  low-ceilinged  room  was  hazy  with  choking 
powder-smoke,  and  Ernest's  eyes  and  throat  smarted. 

178 


HOUSE  TO  HOUSE  IN  OLD  BEJAR 

The  loophole  did  not  seem  very  well  located  for  shoot- 
ing, although  in  other  rooms  the  men  were  busy. 

"  Let's  go  up  on  top  a  minute/'  he  proposed. 

"  Go  if  you  want  to,"  consented  Dick  Carroll,  who 
with  a  partner  completed  the  squad  here.  "  See  as  much 
as  you  can,  while  you  have  a  chance.  But  you'd  better 
do  some  tall  crawling  and  keep  your  heads  down." 

Away  they  scurried.  A  hole  had  been  hacked  in  the 
ceiling,  and  furniture  piled  under ;  and  boosted  by  this  they 
wormed  up  through  to  the  roof. 

The  roof  was  of  flattened  clay,  and  surrounded  by  a 
cement  rim  about  three  feet  high,  like  a  parapet.  Men 
were  lying  on  their  stomachs  behind  the  parapet,  resting 
their  guns  on  it,  aiming,  firing  and  lowering  their  pieces 
to  reload.  Henry  Karnes  was  here — cautiously  raising 
his  red  head  to  sight  along  his  rifle  barrel,  and  at  the  smart 
recoil  of  his  piece  ducking  down  and  hastily  reloading. 

"  You'd  best  get  down  out  of  hyar,"  he  snarled,  to  the 
boys,  as  they  squirmed  beside  him.  "  It's  hotter'n  a  brass 
kettle  at  a  dog  feast !  " 

And  that  was  true.  Bullets  from  Mexican  soldiery 
were  droning  close  above,  like  a  swarm  of  angry  bees. 
They  were  thudding  upon  the  stones,  and  knocking  chips 
from  the  top  of  the  parapet. 

"  I'm  up  here  to  see  something/'  blurted  Jim,  obstin- 
ately, wriggling  so  as  to  get  a  view.  He  carefully  lifted 
his  head,  until  he  could  peep  over  a  low  place.  Not  to  be 
outdone,  Ernest  found  another  place,  where  a  bullet  had 
scored  a  furrow. 

The  air  was  blue  with  the  fumes  of  cannon  and  musket 
and  rifle  discharge.  Immediately  before  the  parapet  was 
a  narrow  street,  separating  the  de  la  Garza  house  from 
another  smaller  house.  But  that  roof  had  been  cleared  of 
Mexicans,  had  any  occupied  it.  Further,  was  the  church 
tower,  rising  beyond  the  row  of  buildings  facing  the 
plazas ;  the  sun  burst  through  the  mists,  and  shone  full 
on  the  red  flag  of  "  No  quarter."  Across  the  street  to  the 

179 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

left  were  the  Johnson  sharpshooters,  poking  their  rifle 
barrels  over  the  parapet  of  the  Veramendi  roof.  The 
Veramendi  house  was  a  short  distance  nearer  to  the  main 
plaza  than  was  the  de  la  Garza  house.  From  the  roofs 
of  the  houses  right  and  left  and  before,  on  toward  the 
plaza,  belched  the  smoke  from  the  volleys  of  the  Mexicans. 

Crawling  on  their  stomachs,  over  the  legs  of  the  men 
so  as  to  keep  under  the  parapet,  the  boys  made  a  half 
circuit  of  the  roof.  At  one  spot  they  looked  down  into  the 
court,  where  amidst  flowers  and  fruits  a  fountain  played 
and  where  birds  were  twittering  and  fluttering,  while  along 
the  wall  that  completed  the  enclosure  the  riflemen  were  at 
work,  shooting  at  Mexican  gunners. 

"  When  this  war's  over  and  Texas  is  free,  and  I  grow 
up  and  get  a  wife,  and  crops  are  good,"  mused  Jim,  "  I 
reckon  I'll  have  a  patio  just  like  this  to  sit  in,  nights  and 
Sundays." 

"  I'll  have  one,  too,  and  put  my  mother  in  it,  I  guess," 
hazarded  Ernest. 

"  She'd  certainly  admire  to  be  put,"  encouraged  Jim. 
"  But  first "  and  suddenly  he  ducked,  with  a  howl. 

"Are  you  hit,  Jim?" 

"  No,"  he  grumbled,  rubbing  his  eyes.  "  Some  hombre 
yonder  pitched  a  lot  of  dust  into  my  face."  For  a  bullet 
had  scraped  along  the  parapet,  right  under  his  nose. 
"  Come  on.  Let's  go  down.  It's  too  crowded  up  here. 
Every  good  place  has  somebody  lying  on  it." 

Back  they  went,  through  the  hole,  into  the  smoke. 

The  day  passed,  with  the  Milam  column  holding  the 
de  la  Garza  house  and  the  Johnson  column  holding  the 
Veramendi  house.  Nobody  could  cross  Soledad  Street, 
from  house  to  house,  because  the  Mexican  cannon  raked 
it.  Several  men  on  the  roof  and  at  the  loopholes  were 
wounded,  and  were  sent  to  camp.  From  camp  General 
Burleson  forwarded  supplies  of  food  and  ammunition. 

Finally  dusk  settled,  and  the  constant  fire  slackened. 
Henry  Karnes  and  a  force  with  the  crowbars  and  with 

180 


HOUSE  TO  HOUSE  IN  OLD  BEJAR 

picks  and  spades  that  had  been  found  were  set  to  work, 
after  dark,  at  digging  a  trench  across  the  street ;  and  made 
one  deep  enough  so  that  men  could  dodge  through,  out  of 
sight,  by  stooping.  Word  was  received  that  the  Johnson 
division  was  all  right;  had  only  one  killed.  The  Milam 
division  had  nobody  killed,  as  yet.  But  Deaf  Smith  had 
been  wounded,  on  the  Veramendi  roof,  and  the  firing  had 
been  so  severe  there  that  nobody  had  been  able  to  stay 
up  long.  Dr.  Grant  had  been  wounded,  too.a 

Yes,  Sion  was  alright.  He  sent  word  through  the  trench. 

The  digging  of  the  trench  had  made  the  Mexicans  very 
angry,  and  throughout  the  night  they  hurled  grape  and 
canister  at  it.  In  the  morning  the  roof-tops  fairly  bristled 
with  their  musketeers ;  they  had  cut  .many  more  loop- 
holes, during  the  night,  in  the  parapets,  and  had  trans- 
ferred their  artillery  to  better  positions.  The  Alamo,  also, 
was  hammering  away  with  solid  shot,  bombarding  the 
Texan  end  of  the  town  and  the  trail  between  town  and 
camp. 

Something  must  be  done ;  unless  the  main  plaza  was 
won  and  the  Mexicans  driven  from  this  central  stronghold, 
the  Texans  would  soon  be  trapped  in  crumbling  walls.  The 
main  streets  and  the  cross-streets  were  being  raked  by  the 
cannon ;  the  only  way  to  advance  was  through  the  houses. 
Lieutenant  Bill  McDonald  volunteered  to  lead  a  squad 
and  break  into  a  small  house,  just  across  a  narrow  little 
street  and  kitty-corner  to  the  right.  This  he  did,  and 
lost  not  a  man.  Colonel  Milam  promptly  sent  reinforce- 
ments to  him,  and  thus  the  column  was  a  step  nearer  to 
the  plazas. 

The  trench  to  the  Veramendi  house  was  dug  deeper 
and  longer ;  and  the  six-pounder  and  twelve-pounder  were 
mounted  behind  barricades  and  used.  So  the  day  passed. 

The  next  day,  in  a  lull  at  noon,  Henry  Karnes  did  a 
brave  act.  Straight  beyond  the  de  la  Garza  house,  and 
flanked  on  the  right  by  the  house  which  Lieutenant 
McDonald  had  captured,  was  another  small  house  that 

181 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

ought  to  be  taken.  Henry  Karnes  the  red-head  dashed 
out,  from  the  door  in  the  middle  of  the  Garza  house,  into 
the  yard  of  the  small  house,  drove  the  door  from  its  hinges 
with  his  crowbar,  and  Captain  John  York's  company  of 
East  Texans  thronged  in  after  him.  The  house  was 
exposed  in  a  large  yard ;  but  now  only  a  block,  occupied 
by  the  great  Priest's  House,  as  it  was  called,  lay  between 
the  column  and  main  plaza.  The  red  flag  flapping  in  the 
heavy,  murky  air,  from  the  tower  of  San  Fernando  church, 
was  closer. 

So  far,  so  good ;  and  hot  work  had  it  been,  for  the 
Mexican  soldiers  shot  shrewdly,  battering  every  loophole 
in  wall  and  parapet  with  their  musket  balls  and  thundering 
away  with  their  cannon.  This  day,  December  7,  had 
been  cold  and  rainy ;  dusk  settled  early.  The  trench,  con- 
necting the  de  la  Garza  house  and  the  Veramendi  house, 
was  to  the  rear ;  directly  across  Soledad  Street,  from  the 
small  house,  was  a  large  green  door,  of  planks,  into  the 
court  of  the  Veramendi  house.  Chancing  to  peep  out  of 
the  window  where  he  was  stationed,  Ernest  saw  a  figure 
spring  boldly  from  the  trench,  and  lay  hand  upon  the 
door  to  push  it  back  and  enter.  'Twas  Colonel  Milam, 
himself,  going  over  to  confer  with  General  Johnson.  But 
even  as  his  hand  touched  the  planks,  there  was  a  volley  of 
musket  shots,  and  down  plunged  Ben  Milam,  in  a  crum- 
pled, motionless  heap.  The  door  swung  in,  but  too  late, 
and  other  hands  quickly  dragged  the  colonel  inside. 

"Milam's  killed!"  gasped  Jim,  at  Ernest's  side. 
"They  got  him!" 

"  Did  you  see  it?"  stammered  Ernest.  "  Is  he  killed? 
Do  you  think  he  is,  Jim?  " 

"  He's  gone !  What'd  he  try  that  for,  anyway  ?"  wailed 
Jim.  And  he  added,  furiously :  "  We'll  make  those 
hombres  suffer  for  that !  " 

"  They've  been  watching  that  door.  They  knew  that 
was  our  way  in,"  reasoned  Ernest. 

Milam  killed!  Ben  Milam  killed!  Gallant  Ben 
182 


HOUSE  TO  HOUSE  IN  OLD  BEJAE 

Milam!  The  word  spread  amidst  angry  murmurs  and 
threats.  Soon,  by  the  trench,  arrived  word  that  dead  he 
was — slain  instantly  by  a  musket  ball  through  the  head. 
He  was  buried  in  the  courtyard  of  the  Veramendi  house ; 
and  a  council  of  officers  chose  Adjutant-General  Johnson 
to  succeed  him  as  the  commander. 

"  Angel  'Navarro's  house !  Now  for  Navarro  the 
political  chief's  house !  Let's  avenge  Milam !  "  rose  the  cry. 

The  house  of  Jose  Angel  Navarro  was  across  Acequia 
Street,  on  the  right,  and  so  far  toward  the  plaza  that  one 
corner,  the  southwest,  gave  a  view  of  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  military  plaza  itself.  Volunteers  were  picked  from 
the  companies  of  Captains  York,  Crane,  English  and 
Llewyllen;  into  the  darkness  they  bolted,  crossed  the 
street,  and  broke  through  the  house  walls  of  Angel 
Navarro,  the  political  chief  who  had  demanded  the 
Gonzales  six-pounder  last  September. 

The  Navarro  house  joined,  behind,  at  the  right,  a  row 
oj  single  rooms  that  fronted  on  the  street  running  into  the 
plaza.  Zambrano  Row,  was  it  styled,  divided  from  the 
Navarro  home  by  a  solid  partition.  Zambrano  Row  was 
full  of  Mexican  soldiers ;  from  the  roof  they  crept  to  the 
Navarro  roof,  and  digging  holes  through  shot  down  upon 
the  Texans  in  the  Navarro  rooms  underneath.  But  this 
did  not  work  well,  for  the  replies  from  the  Texas  guns 
were  so  sharp,  that  the  soldiers  scurried  back. 

"  Clean  out  Zambrano  Row,  next.  Then  the  Priest's 
House/'  remarked  Dick  Carroll,  grimly. 

The  first  column  had  been  doing  most  of  the  advancing, 
for  the  second  column,  in  the  Veramendi  House,  were 
as  far  forward  as  they  could  get.  However,  in  the  drizzle 
of  the  morning  the  New  Orleans  Grays  filed  through 
the  trench,  eager  to  help,  and  joined  with  the  Navarro 
garrison,  to  take  Zambrano  Row. 

What  a  tumult  of  shouts  and  cheers  and  groans  and 
shots  pealed  through  doors  and  windows,  as  from  within 
the  Navarro  house  Henry  Karnes  and  his  sappers  plied 

183 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

their  crowbars  on  the  dividing  wall,  and  made  their 
breaches  into  the  rooms  where  awaited  the  Mexicans. 
Covered  by  the  rifles  behind  them,  the  Texans  burst 
through  the  breaches,  with  their  knives  and  pistols  drove 
the  Mexicans  out  headlong ;  and  clearing  one  room,  pro- 
ceeded, by  crowbar  and  battering-ram,  into  the  next. 
Nothing  could  stand  before  them.  Right  speedily 
Zambrano  Row  had  fallen. 

From  the  small  house  which  had  been  taken  by  Henry 
Karnes  alone,  Ernest  and  Jim  and  their  comrades  had 
listened  with  beating  hearts .  Suddenly  there  ensued  a 
lull,  of  only  spattering  shots — and  rang  a  Texas  cheer. 

"  One  more  step,"  commented  Jim,  turning  powder- 
grimed  face  upon  Ernest.  "  I  don't  reckon  there's  much 
furniture  left  over  yonder,  though." 

Fresh  reinforcements  were  rushed  across  from  the 
Veramendi  House.  Sion  was  among  them  at  last.  At 
sight  of  him,  peering  about  in  the  dimness,  the  two  boys 
rushed  upon  him,  and  shook  hands  vigorously. 

"  How  are  you?    All  right?  " 

"  Up  and  coming,  but  my  shoulder's  plumb  sore  from 
dad's  rifle,"  panted  Sion.  "  This  is  toler'ble  fighting,  isn't 
it !  Four  days !  That  was  too  bad  about  Milam,  though. 
Where's  Leo?  Seen  him?" 

"  No." 

"  He's  here.  Followed  right  behind  us,  with  some 
reinforcements  from  Burleson," 

"  There  he  is !  "  cried  Ernest,     "Oh,  Leo !  Whoopee !  " 

They  shook  hands  with  Leo.  He  was  more  excited 
than  they,  although  he  had  the  only  clean  face  among  them. 

"What  you-all  been  doing?"  he  demanded,  eagerly. 
"  You  look  like  wrecks.  Where  we  going  next  ?  Am  I 
too  late  for  the  fun?  I  came  as  quick  as  I  could.  The 
general  sent  three  more  companies  and  I  got  in  on  one  of 
them — Captain  Cheshire's." 

"You're  just  in  time,  boy,"  vaunted  Sion.  "We're 
going  to  take  the  Priest's  House.  Ugartechea's  slipped 

184 


HOUSE  TO  HOUSE  IN  OLD  BEJAR 

through  you  fellows  scouts  with  six  hundred  more 
soldiers,  from  down  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  we've  got 
to  finish  up  quick.  Once  we  take  the  Priest's  House, 
we'll  be  right  on  the  main  plaza — and  then  watch  those 
Mexican  cannoneers  hop !  " 

The  Priest's  House  occupied  the  block  which,  bounded 
on  the  right  by  the  Navarro  House  and  Zambrano  Row,  on 
the  left  by  part  of  the  Veramendi  House  and  some  smaller 
buildings,  and  behind  by  the  Henry  Karnes  house  and 
yard  and  an  intersecting  street,  fronted  along  the  middle 
of  the  main  plaza. 

"  I'm  in  on  that,  then,"  announced  Leo.  "If  they  call 
for  volunteers  you'll  see  me  jump." 

"  Same  here,"  proclaimed  they  all. 

The  great  Priest's  House,  the  last  stepping  stone,  was 
to  be  stormed  at  ten  o'clock  this  night,  December  8.  One 
hundred  volunteers  were  asked  for  by  General  Johnson. 
There  were  a  few  smiles  and  jokes  when  the  four  boys 
boldly  crowded  forward — but,  as  Jim  said,  they  hadn't 
had  a  single  good  chance  yet  in  any  of  the  special  assaults, 
and  they  could  "  wiggle  through  awful  small  holes." 

"  Let  'em  come,"  spoke  somebody ;  and  they  went 

Out  from  the  Navarro  house  into  the  wet  night  they 
all  plunged,  across  the  slippery  stone  pavement,  and  hurled 
themselves  at  the  windows,  door  and  walls  of  the  Priest's 
House.  This  was  the  biggest  fight  of  all.  The  muskets 
of  the  Mexican  soldiers  belched  a  storm  of  fire  and  lead 
from  roof  top  and  from  windows ;  and  the  plaza  cannon 
thundered  fiercely. 

Shoulder  to  shoulder  the  four  pressed  against  the  wall 
— fairly  held  there  by  the  streams  of  lead  hissing  past — 
while  the  crowbars  and  picks  and  logs  hammered  at  every 
fissure.  Ernest  felt  a  sudden  shock,  followed  by  a  sharp 
sting  in  his  left  arm;  he  staggered  for  an  instant — but 
Jim's  arm  gripped  his  waist,  and  Sion  and  Leo  yelled, 
above  the  tumult: 

"  Ernest's  hit;    Cover  him.    Don't  let  him  drop,  Jim." 
185 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  Never  mind  me.  I  can  stand.  Go  ahead,"  pleaded 
Ernest.  The  blood  was  oozing  through  his  coat,  and  run- 
ning down  his  skin,  inside. 

"  Here  we  go !  "  called  Jim.  "  Hoist  him  in,  quick !  " 
The  wooden  shutter  in  front  of  them  had  been  splintered 
and  torn  open ;  and  following  the  heels  of  the  first  men, 
they  scrambled  through,  half  lifting,  half  dragging  Ernest. 

In  through  door  and  windows  and  embrasures  where 
the  stones  had  been  unseated,  piled  all — all  the  100.  The 
Mexicans  fled  again,  and  at  the  hearty  cheers  of  victory 
reinforcements  were  immediately  sent  from  the  Navarro 
House. 

"  Let's  see  that  arm/'  bade  Jim,  of  Ernest,  as  they 
paused,  panting,  while  shutters  and  door  were  being 
secured,  and  loopholes  made. 

"  Huh !  Only  a  flesh  wound,"  commented  Sion,  in  tone 
of  great  relief.  "Who's  got  a  handkerchief?" 

The  Mexican  ball  had  cut  through  the  muscles,  on  the 
outside  where  the  arm  joined  the  shoulder.  It  really 
did  not  leave  much  damage,  but  the  place  hurt  like  sixty. 
Anyway,  a  wound  it  was,  received  in  battle  ;  and  while  the 
boys  were  tying  it  up,  with  Jim's  handkerchief,  over  Leo's 
handkerchief  as  a  pad,  Ernest  viewed  it  with  considerable 
pride.  Now  he  was  a  veteran  indeed. 

"  You  can  hold  that  little  gun  of  yours  with  your  right 
arm  and  pull  trigger,"  advised  Sion.  "  But  if  you  had 
my  old  pea-shooter  or  Leo's  scatter-gun,  you'd  be  out  of 
action.  You're  lucky." 

However,  for  an  hour  or  two  yet  the  Mexican  cannon 
boomed  and  the  muskets  banged ;  but  the  noise  gradually 
died  away.  When  morning  dawned,  and  the  Texan  rifles 
attempted  to  search  the  exposed  plaza,  it  was  empty  save 
for  the  dead  and  the  wounded.  General  Cos  had  retired 
all  his  troops  to  the  Alamo ;  only  the  red  flag  still  flapped 
defiance. 

About  half-past  six  there  was  a  great  cheering;  a 
Mexican  officer  had  come  in  with  a  white  flag,  to  ask  for 

186 


"HERE  \VE  GO!  "CALLED  JIM.  "HOIST  HIM  IN,  QUICK" 


HOUSE  TO  HOUSE  IN  OLD  BEJAR 

terms.  He  said  that  the  soldiers,  and  the  refugees  from 
the  town,  in  the  Alamo,  had  mutinied;  there  were  not 
enough  provisions;  and  500  of  the  reinforcements  under 
General  Ugartechea  were  convicts,  chained  together  so 
that  they  would  not  run  away!  In  fact,  he  was  rather 
disgusted. 

"  Haul  down  that  no-quarter  flag,  then !  "  swelled  the 
cry.  Out  into  the  street  fronting  the  two  plazas  darted 
volunteers,  mounted  into  the  tower  of  San  Fernando 
church,  which  stood  between  the  plazas,  tore  the  red  flag 
from  its  staff,  and  floated  the  Dodson  "  Lone  Star  "  flag  of 
the  Harrisburg  company. 

Word  of  the  surrender  was  sent  back  to  General 
Burleson.  Now  everybody  might  lounge  at  ease,  while 
keeping  a  careful  watch  upon  any  movement  in  the  Alamo. 
General  Burleson  and  his  staff  and  an  escort  of  cavalry 
rode  into  town ;  and  by  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the 
next  day,  December  10,  the  articles  of  surrender  were 
completed  and  signed. 

General  Cos  and  his  officers  gave  their  parole  or  word 
of  honor  not  to  engage  again  in  any  struggle  to  oppose  the 
constitution  of  1824,  and  they  were  permitted  to  retain 
their  arms  and  personal  belongings.  The  convicts  of 
General  Ugartechea  were  to  be  removed  beyond  the  Rio 
Grande  River.  All  the  army,  except  the  wounded  and 
such  soldiers  as  wished  to  remain  as  private  citizens,  in 
Texas,  were  to  be  marched  away  within  six  days. 

In  the  fighting  the  two  Texas  columns  had  suffered 
only  two  killed  and  twenty-six  (including  Ernest) 
wounded.  General  Cos  was  said  to  have  lost  100,  200, 
perhaps  300  men,  by  bullets,  and  others  by  desertion.  At 
any  rate,  out  of  the  1400  soldiers  gathered  in  the  Alamo, 
only  1105  left  with  him.  And  he  surrendered  twenty-one 
cannon,  500  muskets,  and  much  ammunition. 

"  Whew !  "  sighed  Sion.  "  That  certainly  was  a  beau- 
tiful time !  How's  your  arm,  Ernest  ?  " 

"  All  right,"  declared  Ernest,  proudly. 
187 


XIII 

GENERAL  HOUSTON  DESPAIRS 

So  on  December  14  General  Cos  and  Colonel 
Ugartechea,  with  their  1105  soldiers  including  the  500 
convicts,  took  the  one  four-pounder  that  was  allowed  them 
and  inarched  south,  for  Laredo  across  the  Rio  Grande, 
there  to  send  their  reports  to  Santa  Anna. 

Now  there  was  not  a  Mexican  soldier  left  in  Texas,  and 
things  looked  pretty  good.  All  the  settler  volunteers  were 
anxious  to  go  home,  to  spend  Christmas  with  their  families 
and  friends,  and  to  attend  to  their  business.  Santa  Anna, 
the  reports  said,  was  still  down  in  the  interior  of  Mexico, 
at  San  Luis  Potosi,  a  thousand  miles  away,  preparing  for 
a  campaign  in  person ;  but  he  could  not  arrive  for  several 
weeks,  at  the  least,  and  the  news  of  how  General  Cos  had 
been  wiped  out  ought  to  make  him  yet  more  cautious. 
All  the  south  border  and  the  west  border  of  Texas  were 
held  against  him.  Consequently,  this  was  the  time  for 
taking  a  rest  at  home  and  for  winter  ploughing. 

To  a  few  of  the  citizen  soldiers  the  proposed  breaking 
up  of  the  army  did  not  seem  wise.  Dick  Carroll  opposed 
it ;  Captain  Dickinson  also  was  a  little  dubious — although 
he  much  wished  to  get  back  to  his  wife,  and  a  baby  that 
had  arrived.  Captain  Travis,  too,  thought  that  the  troops 
should  remain  under  arms,  and  the  enlistments  should  be 
pushed,  to  be  ready  to  oppose  the  next  Mexican  force. 

But  on  December  15,  the  day  after  Cos  marched  out, 
General  Burleson  himself  left  for  his  home  in  East  Texas, 
and  took  with  him  a  crowd  of  other  East  Texans. 

"  I'm  going,"  proclaimed  Leo,  to  his  chums.  "  Aren't 
you?" 

"  Sure,  I'm  going,"  answered  Sion.  "  Got  to  put  in 
some  corn,  and  help  celebrate  Christmas." 

"  Same  here,"  announced  Leo. 
188 


GENERAL  HOUSTON  DESPAIRS 

"  Guess  I  will,  too.  Most  the  Gonzales  men  are/'  said 
Ernest.  "  But  if  Santa  Anna  doesn't  wait  for  us,  what '11 
we  do  then  ?  We'll  have  to  hustle." 

"  Shucks !  "  scoffed  Leo.  "  Santa  Anna'll  think  twice, 
now,  when  he  hears  how  just  a  few  of  us  licked  Cos's 
regulars  out  of  Be  jar.  I  reckon  after  I  get  home  I'll 
join  that  Matamoros  expedition.  When  we're  invading 
Mexico  Santa  Anna'll  have  all  he  can  do  there,  without 
trying  to  come  in  here  again/' 

"  Most  those  United  States  volunteers  are  going  to  stay 
on  the  border,  anyway,"  reasoned  Sion.  "  That'll  give  us 
other  fellows  a  chance  to  catch  up  at  home." 

"  Besides,  Sam  Houston's  raising  a  regular  army. 
That's  why  he  was  elected  commander-in-chief,"  added 
Jim.  "  There'll  be  five  thousand  Texan  regulars  ready  for 
Santa  Anna.  Somebody's  got  to  plant  corn  to  feed  'em." 

Immediately  after  General  Burleson  left,  the  army 
broke  up.  By  companies  and  by  squads  the  settlers  rode 
and  marched  for  their  homes.  The  New  Orleans  Grays 
and  the  Mississippians  and  all  the  other  volunteers  from 
the  United  States,  about  400,  remained  at  Bejar ;  and  so 
did  sixty  Texans.  Acting  Adjutant-General  Johnson  was 
in  command ;  Colonel  Neill  was  his  second. 

The  home-going  of  the  rest  was  a  free  and  easy  trip. 
The  four  boys  cantered  together  (for  Sion  had  picked 
up  a  horse,  at  last) ;  and  Ernest,  his  arm  in  a  sling,  felt 
like  a  veteran  returning  from  the  wars.  He  not  only  had 
fought,  but  had  bled  for  Texas  and  liberty. 

At  Gonzales  Ernest  stopped ;  he  was  home.  But  the 
three  others  would  not  stop  a  minute;  that  is,  no  longer 
than  to  eat,  and  freshen  their  horses.  So,  after  dinner, 
they  all  shook  hands  with  him. 

"  If  you  get  down  my  way,  light  and  come  in,"  bade 
Leo,  as  he  swung  on  his  horse.  He  had  the  furthest  to  go. 
"  I  reckon  we'll  meet  up  in  the  spring,  anyhow,  if  those 
Mexicans  get  runctious." 

*Oh,  well  see  you  before  that,"  asserted  Jkn  and 
189 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Sion,  in  turn,  to  Ernest.  "  You'll  be  over  to  the  river 
[by  which  they  meant  the  Colorado]  or  we'll  Jbe  in  here." 

"  Next  time  we'll  all  be  fighting  under  Sam  Houston, 
maybe/'  hazarded  Ernest. 

"  I  certainly 'd  admire  to  pitch  in  and  help  him  lick 
Santa  Anna,"  admitted  Leo — who  of  late  had  appeared  to 
think  considerable  of  the  general.  "  There'd  be  tall 
doings.  When  Houston  takes  the  warpath  you'll  know 
where  to  find  me.  So  long." 

"  Same  here,"  added  Jim  and  Sion.  "  So  long,  amigo 
[friend].  Good  luck.  See  you  later." 

"  So  long,  boys,"  replied  Ernest.  "  See  you  later, 
sure."  And  away  they  galloped,  with  a  whoop  of  joy. 
They  waved  their  hats  at  him,  from  the  trail,  and  presently 
they  were  out  of  sight.  What  fine  fellows  they  were ! 
For  an  instant  there  rose  a  little  lump  in  his  throat,  and 
he  felt  lonesome. 

However,  it  was  no  time  to  be  lonesome.  A  merry 
Christmas,  of  double  celebration,  was  near ;  crops  were  to 
be  put  in ;  and  here  at  Gonzales,  after  the  excitement  of 
the  campaign,  much  news  was  to  be  gathered,  of  the 
progress  in  forming  the  state  government  and  the  army. 
As  for  the  arm,  it  soon  healed,  leaving  a  splendid  scar 
for  record. 

General  Houston  himself  had  spread  the  word  for  all 
the  returned  volunteers  to  plough  their  fields  and  plant 
their  corn,  so  that  there  might  be  an  abundant  crop  for  the 
next  year.  Texas  was  liable  to  need  every  ounce  of  food  : 
and  to  have  this  food  in  readiness  was  a  part  of  the  com- 
ing campaign.  After  Christmas  Dick  Carroll  and  Ernest 
cleared  and  ploughed  forty  acres,  and  so  did  most  of  the 
other  Gonzales  people ;  "  forty  acres  in  corn  "  was  the 
new  war  cry. 

There  arrived  in  Gonzales  a  proclamation  signed  by 
Sam  Houston,  major-general  of  the  army  of  Texas.  It 
was  issued,  date  of  December  12,  from  his  headquarters 
at  Washington  on  the  Brazos,  fifty  miles  above  San  Felipe, 

190 


GENERAL  HOUSTON  DESPAIRS 

and  called  for  the  immediate  formation  of  a  regular  army 
of  1200  men,  and  for  a  larger  volunteer  army. 

To  all  who  will  enlist  [it  said,  speaking  of  the  regular 
army]  for  two  years  or  during  the  war,  a  bounty  of 
twenty-four  dollars  and  eight  hundred  acres  of  land  will 
be  given.  Provision  has  also  been  made  for  raising  an 
auxiliary  volunteer  corps  to  constitute  part  of  the  army 
of  Texas,  which  will  be  placed  under  the  command  and 
subject  to  the  orders  of  the  commander-in-chief.  The 
field  for  promotion  will  be  open.  The  terms  of  service 
will  be  various.  To  those  who  tender  their  services  for 
or  during  the  war  will  be  given  a  bounty  of  six  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  land;  an  equal  bounty  will  be  given 
to  those  who  volunteer  their  services  for  two  years ;  if 
for  one  year  a  bounty  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 

It  promised  the  rights  of  citizens  to  all  persons,  from 
the  United  States  and  from  Mexico,  who  would  "  unite 
with  the  people  in  defending  the  republican  principles  of 
the  Constitution  of  1824  " ;  and  it  concluded : 

The  services  of  five  thousand  volunteers  will  be 
accepted.  The  ist  of  March  next,  we  must  meet  the 
enemy  with  an  army  worthy  of  our  cause,  and  which  will 
reflect  honor  upon  freemen.  Our  habitations  must  be 
defended ;  the  sanctity  of  our  hearths  and  homes  must  be 
preserved  from  pollution.  Liberal  Mexicans  will  unite 
with  us.  Our  countrymen  in  the  field  have  presented 
an  example  worthy  of  imitation.  Generous  and  brave 
hearts  from  a  land  of  freedom  have  joined  our  standard 
before  Bexar.  They  have  by  their  heroism  and  valor 
called  forth  the  admiration  of  their  Companions  in  arms, 
and  reflected  honor  on  the  land  of  their  birth.  Let  the 
brave  rally  to  our  standard. 

"  Sounds  just  like  Houston,"  remarked  Dick  Carroll. 
"  Now  if  anybody  in  Texas  thinks  we're  through  with 
Santa  Anna,  let  him  read  this  hyar  proclamation.  He 
says  in  it  that  'cording  to  dispatches  that  have  been  cap- 
tured, Santi  Anna's  assembling  ten  thousand  troops  ag'in 

191 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

us.  March  first?  We're  likely  to  be  waked  up  before 
March  first.  And  as  for  that  Matamoros  expedition,  I 
don't  believe  it  will  work.  You  can't  depend  on  the 
Mexican  people  helping  any  invasion.  Look  what  hap- 
pened down  at  Tampico." 

For  when,  this  December,  one  General  Jose  Antonio 
Mexia,  a  Mexican  officer  opposed  to  Santa  Anna's  rule, 
had  disembarked  a  company  from  New  Orleans  at  Tam- 
pico, on  the  Gulf  Coast  of  Mexico,  the  citizens,  instead  of 
helping  him,  had  cried  "  Hurrah  for  Santa  Anna !  Death 
to  the  strangers !  "  and  twenty-eight  of  the  party  had  been 
imprisoned  and  shot. 

Ernest  was  very  ready  to  enlist  in  the  army  called  for 
by  General  Houston.  Of  course,  he  was  only  a  boy ;  but 
he  had  been  a  soldier  volunteer,  and  now  if  they  thought 
he  was  too  young  to  carry  a  gun  in  the  regular  army,  he 
could  at  least  be  a  drummer-boy — or  something.  How- 
ever, the  Gonzales  people  generally  appeared  not  at  all 
concerned.  The  men  were  busy  and  were  enjoying  their 
homes ;  they  had  threshed  the  Mexicans  several  times  and 
had  driven  them  all  out  of  the  country,  and  upheld  the 
constitution  of  1824,  and  this  was  enough  for  the  present. 
So  let  those  fellows  who  liked  army  discipline  and  who 
were  not  needed  at  home,  go  ahead  and  enlist;  and  let 
the  other  fellows  with  crops  and  families  depending  on 
them  take  things  easy  until  the  real  call  came.  In  fact, 
everybody  expected  somebody  else  to  do  the  joining. 

Nevertheless,  at  his  headquarters  in  Washington  on  the 
Brazos,  General  Houston  was  doing  the  best  that  he  could, 
to  hurry  matters  along.  James  W.  Fannin,  the  Georgian, 
had  been  appointed  by  the  General  Council  colonel  of  the 
regular  artillery.  He  also  was  appointed  by  General 
Houston  inspector-general  of  the  army.  Colonel  James 
Neill,  and  David  Macomb,  who  had  been  the  assistant 
adjutant-general,  were  the  lieutenant  colonels.  Captain 
William  Travis  was  appointed  a  major.  Colonel  Philip 
Sublett,  who  had  commanded  one  of  the  divisions  at  the 

192 


GENERAL  HOUSTON  DESPAIRS 

old  mill  camp  before  Be  jar,  was  appointed  the  colonel  of 
the  regular  infantry. 

Captain  Travis  preferred  not  to  serve  in  the  artillery, 
and  was  made  the  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  cavalry,  and 
Colonel  Frank  W.  Johnson,  who  had  commanded  the 
columns  in  Bejar  after  the  death  of  Ben  Milam,  was 
put  in  his  place  in  the  artillery.  Colonel  Sublett  resigned, 
and  was  succeeded  by  General  Edward  Burleson,  whom 
everybody  knew. 

The  regular  army  was  to  consist  of  1120  men,  divided 
into  a  regiment  of  infantry  and  a  regiment  of  artillery: 
composed  part  of  actual  regulars  enlisted  for  two  years, 
and  part  of  "  permanent  volunteers  "  enlisted  to  serve  until 
the  end  of  the  war.  All  were  to  be  under  the  regulations 
and  pay  adopted  by  the  army  of  the  United  States. 

There  was  to  be  a  corps  of  168  Rangers,  attached  to  the 
regular  army,  but  to  enlist  for  one  year  and  to  serve  only 
when  called  upon  ;  a  kind  of  scouts.  They  were  to  receive 
pay,  when  on  duty,  of  $1.25  a  day;  to  furnish  their  own 
horses  and  arms  and  supplies,  and  to  be  "  always  ready 
armed  and  supplied  with  one  hundred  rounds  of  pow- 
der and  ball."  Three-legged  Williamson  was  elected 
major,  commanding.  This  Ranger  service  looked  rather 
attractive  to  Ernest. 

But  there  also  was  the  volunteer  cavalry,  under  the 
gallant  Captain,  now  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Travis.  Who- 
ever followed  William  Barret  Travis  would  certainly  have 
excitement.  The  cavalry  were  to  number  384  men,  were 
to  be  armed  with  broad-swords  and  pistols,  and  double- 
barrelled  shot-guns  and  smooth-bore  yagers,  half  and  half ; 
and  were  to  be  "  subject  to  regular  discipline  and  the 
rules  and  articles  of  war."  For,  said  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Travis,  "  a  mob  can  do  wonders  in  a  sudden  burst  of 
patriotism  or  passion,  but  cannot  be  depended  on  as 
soldiers  for  a  campaign. "  The  pay  was  to  be  the  United 
States  cavalry  pay,  and  there  was  to  be  a  uniform  of 
cadet-gray  blouses  and  trousers,  with  yellow  bullet  but- 

193 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

tons;  fur  caps,  high  black  collars,  and  cowhide  boots! 
This  cavalry  seemed  the  best  of  all. 

And  there  was  a  corps  of  5000  "  auxiliary  volunteers," 
to  enlist  for  three  months  or  more,  and  be  under  the  army 
regulations.  An  "Army  of  Reserve  for  the  Protection 
of  the  Liberties  of  Texas  "  also  was  being  talked  of,  to  be 
recruited  in  the  United  States  by  the  patriotic  Judge  T.  J. 
Chambers,  of  Texas.  Governor  Smith  advised  a  corps  of 
engineers.  Everybody  between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and 
fifty  was  invited  to  help  form  companies  of  home  militia. 

Colonel  Fannin  was  stationed  at  Velasco,  on  the  Gulf 
in  Leo's  country,  to  open  a  recruiting  station  and  to  receive 
volunteers  from  the  United  States.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Travis  was  stationed  on  recruiting  service  at  San  Felipe. 
Colonel  Jim  Bowie  was  at  Goliad.  But  out  of  all  these 
plans  very  little  resulted.  General  Houston's  proclama- 
tion even  seemed  to  have  scarcely  any  effect.  The  volun- 
teers from  the  United  States — from  Kentucky,  Alabama, 
Georgia  and  Tennessee — continued  to  arrive ;  but  they  said 
that  they  had  not  come  to  serve  in  any  regular  army. 
They  had  come  to  fight  and  to  be  subject  to  their  own 
officers,  and  the  majority  opposed  enlisting  in  the  Texas 
army  for  even  three  months.  By  the  middle  of  January, 
1836,  the  regular  army  numbered  scarcely  fifty  men;  and 
taking  volunteers  and  all,  the  great  majority  were  from 
the  United  States. 

Truly,  General  Houston  was  having  a  discouraging 
time  with  these  independent  Texas  settlers. 

To  make  matters  worse,  Colonel  Fannin,  at  Velasco, 
and  Dr.  Grant,  at  Be  jar,  were  determined  upon  the  in- 
vasion of  Mexico  by  way  of  Matamoros.  General 
Houston  did  not  favor  this  ;  there  were  not  troops  enough, 
and  the  Mexican  people  could  not  be  relied  upon,  and 
Texas  would  do  better  to  protect  itself,  rather  than  send  all 
its  soldiers  into  the  enemy's  country.  But  the  General 
Council  supported  the  scheme,  the  volunteers  were  eager  to 
be  doing  something,  Dr.  Grant  promised  them  much  booty, 

194 


GENERAL  HOUSTON  DESPAIRS 

among  the  Mexican  towns  and  ranches,  and  Colonel 
Fannin  was  authorized  by  the  council  to  collect  men,  raise 
funds,  elect  officers,  and  march  on  Matamoros. 

Dr.  Grant  took  all  the  United  States  volunteers,  in- 
cluding the  New  Orleans  Grays,  from  Bejar,  and  most  of 
the  supplies,  and  set  out  to  join  Colonel  Fannin.  This 
left  only  sixty  men  in  Bejar — and  General  Santa  Anna, 
with  thousands  of  Mexican  cavalry  and  artillerymen,  was 
already  at  Saltillo,  and  General  Cos  was  awaiting  him 
at  the  Rio  Grande  River  itself ! 

General  Houston  had  ordered  Colonel  Bowie,  at 
Goliad,  to  lead  the  expedition  against  Matamoros,  if  he 
thought  the  scheme  was  likely  to  succeed ;  he  felt  that  he 
could  depend  upon  Jim  Bowie,  who  knew  that  country. 
But  the  council,  by  appointing  Colonel  Fannin,  had  over- 
ruled these  orders.  Colonel  Fannin  claimed  that  the  coun- 
cil and  not  the  general  of  the  army  was  his  commander 
now.  So  he  went  ahead  with  his  preparations,  and  all 
the  impatient  volunteers  from  the  United  States  gathered 
to  his  summons.  Colonel  Frank  Johnson,  too,  was 
directed  by  the  council  to  join  the  expedition  and  help 
form  it.  From  Bejar  he  proceeded  through  Gonzales  to 
San  Felipe;  and  now  Lieutenant-Colonel  Neill  was  left 
on  the  frontier  with  only  sixty  men  and  no  supplies. 

Thus  defied  by  the  council  and  by  his  own  inspector- 
general  and  the  commander  of  the  artillery,  General 
Houston  was  in  a  sad  fix.  This  would  never  do,  in  any 
army.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Neill  wrote  a  letter  protesting 
alarmedly  at  the  condition  in  Bejar.  And  referring  the 
letter  to  Governor  Smith,  General  Houston  likewise 
protested. 

He  said  that  the  army  was  in  confusion ;  the  soldiers 
who  had  been  wounded  in  the  battles  were  being  neglected, 
while  without  the  authority  of  the  commanding  officer  sup- 
plies were  being  diverted  from  them  and  sent  elsewhere. 
As  for  himself,  he  was  ready  to  obey  orders,  if  only 
Texas  might  be  saved. 

195 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Within  thirty  hours  [he  said]  I  shall  set  out  for  the 
army,  and  repair  there  with  all  possible  dispatch.  I  pray 
that  a  confidential  dispatch  may  meet  me  at  Goliad,  and, 
if  I  have  left,  that  it  may  pursue  me  wherever  I  may  be. 

No  language  can  express  my  anguish  of  soul.  Oh, 
save  our  poor  country ! — Send  supplies  to  the  wounded, 
the  naked,  the  sick,  and  the  hungry,  for  God's  sake! 
What  will  the  world  think  of  the  authorities  of  Texas? 
Prompt,  decided,  and  honest  independence  is  all  that  can 
save  them  and  redeem  the  country.  I  do  not  fear, — I 
will  do  my  duty. 

I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

SAM  HOUSTON, 

Governor  Smith  was  angry,  too.  He  ordered  General 
Houston  to  take  command,  to  locate  his  headquarters  at 
Bejar  or  some  other  post  on  the  western  frontier,  and  to 
begin  a  campaign.  That  would  occupy  the  troops  and 
defend  Texas.  He  wrote  a  letter  to  the  council  also, 
hotly  reproving  them  for  interfering  with  the  commander- 
in-chief,  and  for  encouraging  officers  to  disobey  his 
instructions. 

When  General  Houston  arrived  at  Goliad,  he  found 
that  almost  the  whole  of  the  army,  being  mainly  the  volun- 
teers from  the  United  States,  were  assembled  down  here 
on  the  Gulf  Coast,  ready  for  the  Matamoros  march. 
Colonel  Fannin  had  been  elected  their  colonel,  and  Major 
William  Ward,  of  the  Georgia  volunteers,  their  lieutenant 
colonel.  Lieutenant- Colonel  Frank  Johnson  claimed  that 
by  the  appointment  of  the  council  he  was  the  rightful  com- 
mander. Dr.  Grant,  another  commander,  had  passed  on, 
after  stripping  the  Goliad  post  of  its  horses.  But  General 
Houston,  in  a  speech  at  Goliad  and  at  Refugio  nearby, 
assured  the  volunteers  that  by  the  direction  of  the  gover- 
nor he  himself  was  here  to  be  the  leader  in  whatever  was 
done — although  he  was  sure  that  any  invasion  of  Mexico, 
now,  would  result  in  only  defeat  and  death  to  all  concerned. 

Listening  to  the  advice  of  Sam  Houston,  many  of  the 
196 


GENERAL  HOUSTON  DESPAIRS 

volunteers  decided  not  to  go  to  Matamoros  unless  he 
favored  it.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Johnson's  force  for  the 
march  overland  dropped  to  only  sixty,  and  he  did  not  go. 
Colonel  Fannin  was  not  able  to  sail  from  Velasco,  and 
instead  garrisoned  Goliad.  Dr.  Grant  remained  out  on  the 
prairies  to  the  westward,  collecting  more  horses.  The 
soldiers  were  very  discontented,  being  without  money  and 
supplies. 

After  having  done  the  best  that  he  could,  General 
Houston  learned  that  the  council  had  suspended  Governor 
Smith,  on  account  of  the  letter  that  he  had  written  to 
them,  and  had  appointed  Lieutenant-Governor  Robinson 
to  serve  in  his  place  until  the  next  convention  met,  on 
March  i.  So  back  north  to  Washington  on  the  Brazos 
hastened  Sam  Houston,  now  well  discouraged.  The  army 
were  presumed  to  make  their  winter  quarters  at  Refugio, 
near  Goliad  in  the  south. 

In  the  United  States  Stephen  Austin,  Dr.  Branch  T. 
Archer,  and  Mr.  William  H.  Wharton,  the  Texas  com- 
missioners appointed  by  the  convention  of  last  November, 
were  busily  obtaining  loans  of  money  for  the  Texas  gov- 
ernment, with  which  supplies  were  being  bought.  This 

was  one  bright  spot. 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

Such  was  the  news  as  received  in  Gonzales,  by  the 
columns  of  the  San  Felipe  weekly  Telegraph,  and  by  letters 
and  word  of  mouth.  Indeed,  what  with  the  disputes 
among  the  army  officers,  the  quarrel  between  the  governor 
and  the  council,  and  the  opposition  to  General  Houston 
himself,  as  commander-in-chief,  things,  to  Ernest  (trying 
his  best  to  understand) ,  looked  black  for  Texas.  He  was 
glad  that  the  Matamoros  expedition  was  gi^en  up,  for  Leo 
probably  would  have  joined  and  have  been  killed.  But 
here  was  Texas  at  helpless  sixes  and  sevens — and  General 
Santa  Anna,  according  to  reports,  was  at  Saltillo,  prepar- 
ing to  march  with  a  great  army  against  the  "  rebels." 

Bejar  surely  would  be  among  the  first  places  attacked. 
197 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Neill  was  there,  with  scarcely  100  men 
to  man  it  and  the  Alamo  and  to  support  the  twenty- four 
cannon.  He  had  sent  for  help.  Near  the  close  of  the 
third  week  of  January,  this  1836,  had  ridden  into  Gonzales, 
from  Goliad  sixty  miles  south,  Colonel  James  Bowie,  and 
Colonel  Bonham,  the  South  Carolinan,  with  a  handful  of 
recruits. 

"  Where  you  going,  Jim  ?  " 

"  To  Bexar.  Neill's  asked  again  for  help.  He  tells 
headquarters  that  a  thousand  Mexicans  are  coming  to 
attack  him.  The  general's  sent  us  with  orders  for  him 
to  blow  up  the  place  and  to  pull  out  with  all  his  artillery. 
We  can't  raise  troops  enough  to  defend  it.  Captain  Dimitt 
has  orders  to  follow  us  from  Goliad  with  one  hundred  men 
if  he  can  get  them,  but  I  don't  believe  he  can.  It's  a 
shame,  gentlemen ;  a  shame  on  Texas. ' 

And  away  rode  the  courtly  James  Bowie  and  the  gallant 
James  Bonham.  Ernest  and  Gonzales  never  saw  them 
again. 

By  courier  through  Gonzales,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Neill 
replied  to  General  Houston  that  as  he  had  no  oxen  or 
mules  with  which  to  drag  his  cannon,  he  could  not  obey 
the  orders,  and  would  hold  his  post,  in  hopes  of  reinforce- 
ments. 

"  He'll  stay ;  so  will  Bowie  and  Bonham ! "  groaned 
Dick  Carroll,  who  was  ill  in  bed,  to  Ernest.  "  And  they'll 
fight  to  the  death.  They'll  never  surrender.  After  win- 
ning Be  jar,  we'll  lose  it.  If  I  was  only  on  my  feet ! 

Meanwhile,  'stead  of  sending  reinforcements,  Texas  is 
fighting  amongst  itself,  and  at  the  same  time  depending 
on  Sam  Houston.  But  what  can  Houston  do — a  general 
without  an  army  to  obey  him,  or  a  government  to  help 
him.  Travis  and  Bowie  and  Bonham  and  a  few  others 
are  about  all  the  friends  he  seems  to  have,  aside  from  the 
governor,  who's  a  governor  no  longer." 

Ten  days  passed,  marked  by  more  rumors,  and  by  an- 
other courier  bearing  through  Gonzales  an  appeal  from 

198 


GENERAL  HOUSTON  DESPAIRS 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Neill  to  the  government  for  help. 
Then,  at  the  last  of  January,  appeared  in  Gonzales  William 
Barret  Travis,  for  Bejar  with  thirty  horsemen. 

"  Who's  for  Bexar?  "  he  challenged,  hotly.  "  What's 
the  matter  with  you  Texans?  Are  you  Gonzales  people 
just  as  cold-blooded  as  the  rest  of  the  state? "  I 

"  Where's  your  regular  army,  colonel  ? "  retorted 
somebody. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Travis  threw  up  his  hand  with  a 
gesture  of  despair. 

"  The  regular  army !  "  he  cried.  "  I've  been  on  re;- 
cruiting  service  for  weeks.  So  has  Fannin ;  so  has  Rusk. 
The  whole  regular  army  doesn't  number  a  hundred  men. 
Since  I  received  orders  to  march  to  the  relief  of  Bexar 
I've  worked  day  and  night  to  get  regulars,  volunteers, 
anybody;  and  at  San  Felipe  and  at  Burnam's  on  the 
Colorado  I've  raised  only  thirty  men — twenty-six  of  'em 
regulars,  and  four  of  'em  volunteers.  I  had  more,  but 
they  deserted,  with  their  horses  and  outfit.  Boys,  I'm 
discouraged.  The  country  seems  exhausted,  or  else  won't 
fight.  We've  a  few  patriots,  but  they're  about  worn  out. 
They  can't  do  everything.  I  haven't  slept,  and  I've 
pledged  my  own  money.  The  governor's  been  deposed, 
and  nobody  will  follow  Sam  Houston — the  best  man  who's 
yet  thrown  in  with  Texas.  Looks  to  me  as  if  we  were 
counting  on  the  United  States  to  fight  our  battles  for  us. 
But  I'm  going  to  Bexar  if  I  have  to  go  alone.  It's  the 
key  to  Texas,  and  I,  personally,  shall  never  surrender  it." 

He  took  Captain  Dickinson  and  Captain  Albert  Martin 
and  two  or  three  other  Gonzales  men  with  him  among  his 
volunteers,  and  rode  on.  He  never  came  back ;  and  came 
not  back  Captain  Dickinson.  Ernest  would  gladly  have 
gone  with  his  captain,  but  he  could  not  leave  Dick. 

January  merged  into  February.  General  Houston  was 
reported  to  have  been  forced  out  of  his  commandership, 
and  to  have  gone  on  a  mission  to  make  a  treaty  with  the 
Cherokee  Indians  in  Texas.  The  regular  army  was  a 

199 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

failure;  and  the  majority  of  the  volunteers,  about  400 
(most  of  them  from  the  United  States)  were  with  Colonel 
Fannin  at  Goliad.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Travis,  Colonel 
Bowie,  Colonel  Bonham,  and  Captain  Dickinson  (who  had 
been  reappointed  as  lieutenant  in  the  regular  service) 
were  still  at  Bejar.  Captain  Dickinson  had  sent  for  his 
wife  and  baby  to  join  him  and  visit  relatives  there. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Neill  passed  through  Gonzales  on  his 
way  home,  sick.  He  had  left  Travis  in  command  of  about 
150  men — far,  far  too  few. 

For  the  Mexican  soldiery  were  marching  north.  Re- 
ports from  Lieutenant-Colonel  Travis  said  that  he  was  in 
command  of  the  regulars  and  cavalry,  and  Colonel  Bowie 
of  the  volunteers.  But  General  Sesma,  of  the  Mexican 
army,  he  reported,  certainly  had  arrived  at  the  Rio  Grande 
River  and  joined  General  Cos,  with  2000  men. 

We  are  illy  prepared  for  their  reception  [ran  his 
appeal  to  the  helpless  Governor  Smith],  as  we  have  not 
more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  here,  and  they  are 
in  a  very  disorganized  state.  Yet,  we  are  determined  to 
sustain  it  as  long  as  there  is  a  man  left,  because  we 
consider  death  preferable  to  disgrace,  which  would  be  the 
result  of  giving  up  a  post  which  has  been  so  dearly  won, 
and  thus  opening  the  door  for  the  invaders  to  enter  the 
sacred  territory  of  the  colonies.  We  hope  our  country- 
men will  open  their  eyes  to  the  present  danger,  and  wake 
from  their  false  security.  I  hope  all  party  dissensions 
will  subside,  and  that  our  citizens  will  unite  in  the  com- 
mon cause  and  fly  to  the  aid  of  the  frontier. 

I  fear  it  is  useless  to  waste  arguments  upon  them. 
The  thunder  of  the  enemy's  cannon — the  cries  of  their 
famished  children  and  the  smoke  of  their  burning  dwell- 
ings will  only  arouse  them. 

For  God's  sake,  and  for  the  sake  of  our  country 
[implored  the  brave  Lieutenant-Colonel  Travis],  send  us 
reinforcements.  And  he  added: 

With  two  hundred  men  I  believe  this  place  can  be 
maintained,  and  I  hope  they  will  be  sent  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. Yet,  should  we  receive  no  reinforcements,  I  am 

200 


GENERAL  HOUSTON  DESPAIRS 

determined ;  and  should  Bexar  fall,  your  friend  will  be 
found  beneath  its  ruins. 

Colonel  Bowie  had  written,  too;  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Neill  had  brought  word  in  person.  What  could 
150,  or  200  men,  do  against  2000?  But  scarcely  had  the 
appeals  from  Bejar  been  published  in  the  San  Felipe 
Telegraph,  when  on  the  night  of  February  26  a  dispatch 
rider  again  galloped,  horse  afoam,  into  Gonzales.  He 
bore  a  message  from  Bejar  to  the  alcalde  or  anybody  else 
in  authority. 

COMMANDANCY  OF  BEXAR, 

Feb.  23,  3  o'clock  P.M.,  1836. 

To  Andrew  Ponton,  Judge,  and  the  Citizens  of  Gonzales: 
The  enemy  in  large  force  is  in  sight.  We  want  men 
and  provisions.  Send  them  to  us.  We  have  150  men  and 
are  determined  to  defend  the  Alamo  to  the  last  Give  us 
assistance. 

W.  B.  TRAVIS,  Lieut.-Col.,  Commanding. 
P.  S. — Send  an  express  to  San  Felipe  with  the  news, 
night  and  day.  TRAVIS. 


XIV 

INDEPENDENCE  IS  DECLARED 

AROUSED  by  the  clatter  of  hoofs  in  the  street,  while 
he  and  Dick  were  getting  ready  for  bed,  Ernest  had  rushed 
out,  curious,  for  now  every  hurrying  horseman  carried 
a  fresh  alarm. 

Having  delivered  the  message,  the  dispatch-bearer  was 
sitting  his  horse  in  the  gloom-enshrouded  main  plaza,  and 
repeating  his  story  to  an  ever-increasing  group  of  citizens 
around  him.  Captain  John  W.  Smith,  the  civil  engineer 
of  Bejar,  who  had  guided  Sion's  column  to  the  attack,  and 
now  had  taken  up  residence  at  Gonzales,  was  there ;  and 
Jacob  Darst  and  others. 

"  They  came  on  us  all  of  a  sudden  [was  saying  the 
courier]  ;  first  their  advance  guard,  of  nigh  a  thousand,  on 
the  twenty-second,  driving  in  before  them  a  couple  of  our 
scouts.  We'd  just  time  to  evacuate  for  the  Alamo,  taking 
along  what  cattle  we  could  pick  up  on  the  way,  and  some 
of  the  women  and  children.  Dickinson  managed  to  grab 
his  wife  and  baby  from  the  doorway  of  a  house  where  they 
were  staying  and  carry  them  on  his  saddle.  We  worked 
all  night  arranging  things  in  the  Alamo,  for  we  hadn't 
men  enough  to  hold  both  places ;  and  on  the  next  day  the 
whole  Mexican  army  appeared — two  thousand  more  infan- 
try and  cavalry,  with  Santa  Anna  himself.  Travis  sent  me 
out  with  word  to  Gonzales,  and  Colonel  Bonham's  gone  on 
south  for  Fannin  at  Goliad." 

"Will  Travis  stay?" 

"You're  right  he  will!  He  can't  be  budged—the 
bravest,  pluckiest  man  in  Texas.  And  Bowie's  there,  and 
Davy  Crockett." 

"  What !    Davy  Crockett  the  Tennessee  hunter?"  , 

"  Yes,  sir ;  the  same.  Davy  and  his  rifle  Betsy.  He  got 
in  about  two  weeks  ago,  from  Nacogdoches,  with  a  dozen 

202 


INDEPENDENCE  IS  DECLARED 

other  Tennesseeans,  all  hankering  to  help  Texas  fight  for 
liberty.  But  there'll  have  to  be  other  reinforcements. 
Fannin  may  try.  Whether  he'll  get  through  I  don't  know. 
The  trail  in  from  the  east  is  still  open.  Who'll  go— and 
who'll  carry  the  news  on  to  the  government?  " 

"  I  will,"  spoke  a  voice.  Twas  that  of  Dick  Carroll, 
who,  buttoning  his  clothes,  had  followed  Ernest.  "  I'm 
too  weak  to  fight,  boys — I've  been  sick,  you  know ;  but  I 
can  ride.  If  I  don't  get  through,  Ernest  will.  Come  on, 
lad ;  saddle  up." 

Without  waiting  for  any  answer,  he  hurried  off  to  the 
corral.  Ernest  at  his  heels. 

They  quickly  buckled  the  bridles  and  slapped  on  the 
saddles,  speaking  scarcely  a  word. 

"Finish,  and  bring  the  horses,"  bade  Dick.  "Get 
our  fixin's  from  the  house.  I  want  to  see  Ponton  and 
that  message.  Meet  me  in  the  square." 

He  hastened  away  through  the  darkness.  Ernest 
cinched  the  saddles,  ran  to  the  house  and  got  the  rifles 
and  ammunition,  coats  and  blankets ;  and  on  Duke,  lead- 
ing Dick's  horse,  trotted  to  the  square. 

Throughout  the  town  lights  were  glimmering  in  win- 
dows, men  and  women  were  stirring,  and  in  the  plaza  the 
crowd  was  larger.  The  heavy  air  was  full  of  fear  and 
excitement.  But  Dick  was  waiting;  he  seized  the  bridle 
of  his  horse,  as  Ernest  came  up,  and  vaulted  into  the 
saddle. 

"Ready?"  he  uttered,  tersely.  "We're  off,  then." 
And  with  touch  of  spur  he  broke  his  horse  into  a  trot. 
Ernest  drew  beside  him. 

"  We'll     make    through    to    Burnam's,"    he     said. 

"  Change  horses ;  make  San  Felipe,  and  I  reckon  one  of 

us'll  have  to  go  on  up  to  Washington  and  find  Houston." 

'"I'll  do  it,  Dick,"  promised  Ernest.     "You've  been 

sick." 

"  I  know  you  will.  If  I  wasn't  so  all-fired  weak,  I'd 
be  for  the  Alamo.  Smith  is  collecting  volunteers. 

203 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

They'll  leave  in  the  morning."  He  groaned.  "  Oh, 
what's  this  country  coming  to?  The  state  without  a 
governor — or  with  two  of  'em,  rather.  The  council  and 
the  people  divided.  Sam  Houston  without  a  command — 
a  regular  army  of  sixty  or  seventy,  they  say,  and  no  offi- 
cers or  supplies ;  rest  of  'em  mainly  volunteers  from  the 
States — four  hundred  with  Fannin  at  Goliad,  a  hundred 
and  thirty  with  Johnson  and  Grant  at  San  Patricio,  and 
only  a  hundred  and  fifty  regulars  and  volunteers  thrown 
together  at  Bejar.  Houston  sent  to  treat  with  the  Injuns, 
when  he  ought  to  be  right  on  the  spot.  And  the  conven- 
tion, to  set  things  right,  not  due  till  March  first,  and  three 
thousand  Mexicans  already  across  the  border,  to  sweep  the 
state.  If  those  fellows  would  only  get  out  of  the  Alamo 
while  they  have  a  chance.  They  could  take  to  the  timber 
and  fetch  off  some  of  their  artillery,  too." 

"Don't  you  think  they  will,  Dick?" 

"  Travis  ?  And  Bowie,  and  Bonham,  and  Dickin- 
son and  Crockett  ?  No !  They  don't  know  the  meaning 
of  retreat.  They'll  wait  for  Fannin.  Maybe  he'll  cut 
through,  if  he  can  move  his  baggage ;  but  I  doubt  it.  He'll 
have  a  hundred  miles  to  cover  and  Santa  Anna'll  be 
watching  for  him.  Same  with  Grant  and  Johnson.  If 
the  boys  can  hold  out,  they'll  get  reinforcements  from 
the  east.  The  Gonzales  batch  will  likely  make  it — but 
they'll  be  only  a  few.  Most  of  the  settlers  are  scattered 
at  their  homes.  They'll  wake,  and  they'll  wake  too  late. 
Darn  'em !  Darn  us  all !  " 

"  But  Sam  Houston'll  go,"  proffered  Ernest,  hope- 
fully. 

"  What  can  he  do  alone  ?  The  council's  ag'in  him  and 
the  governor,  and  the  people  don't  know  which  to  trust. 
All  sorts  of  stories  are  afloat.  The  convention's  got  to 
settle  matters.  You'll  see,  though,  how  quick  they'll  all 
turn  to  Sam  Houston,  with  Santa  Anna  at  their  doors. 
Once  let  the  convention  give  him  authority  again,  and  he'll 
act,  he'll  act.  Just  now  he's  only  a  delegate  from  Refugio, 

204 


INDEPENDENCE  IS  DECLARED 

waiting  orders.     But  if  he  gets  'em,  and  the  Texas  people 
will  obey  him,  he'll  save  Texas  yet." 

Occasionally  hoping  and  despairing,  all  night  they 
rode,  and  at  dawn  reached  Burnam's  on  the  Colorado. 
While  from  here  the  alarm  was  carried  north  and  south 
along  the  river,  they  drank,  ate,  rested  a  couple  of  hours, 
and  on  fresh  horses  rode  for  San  Felipe,  although  other 
messengers  had  volunteered. 

"  No.  Go  to  Gonzales,  every  one  of  you,"  urged  Dick. 

They  arrived  at  San  Felipe  with  Dick  fagged  and 
barely  able  to  sit  the  saddle.  Ernest,  tough  and  young 
and  well,  staggered  as  he  dismounted  and  helped  his 
partner  off.  It  had  been  a  hard  ride — the  last  stretch 
the  hardest  of  all. 

They  found  San  Felipe  well-nigh  emptied  of  its  able- 
bodied  men;  those  not  out  in  the  fields  had  gone  up  to 
Washington,  where  the  convention  of  March  first  already 
was  gathering.  The  quarrel  between  the  governor  and 
the  council  was  to  be  settled;  and  it  was  rumored  that 
a  declaration  of  independence  from  Mexico  was  to  be 
passed.  Governor  Smith  had  gone.  General  Houston 
would  be  back  from  his  trip  to  the  Cherokees. 

So  they  found  San  Felipe  quiet,  save  for  its  anxiety 
to  ask:  "What  about  Travis  at  Bejar?"  And  when 
with  their  message  they  answered  the  questions,  speedily 
San  Felipe  was  aroused  as  Gonzales  had  been.  Expresses 
were  sent  scouring  to  summon  the  Brazos  settlers,  and 
within  an  hour  the  Travis  call  to  the  government  was 
on  its  way  again,  by  new  and  stronger  hands,  to  the 
gathering  at  Washington,  fifty  miles  up-river. 

"  I'm  all  in,"  admitted  Dick,  drooping.  "  We've  done 
our  best,  the  boy  and  I.  We've  got  to  rest  a  night. 
Hurry  on,  hurry  on.  Maybe  we'll  go  up  in  the  morning ; 
one  of  us,  anyway." 

Ernest  it  was  who  went.  In  the  morning  he  felt  keen 
and  able  once  more.  Dick  was  still  laid  up,  but  urged 
him  to  leave. 

205 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  If  there's  a  declaration  of  independence,  I  want  you 
to  hear  it,"  he  said.  "  There'll  have  to  be  one.  Houston 
says  that's  the  only  way,  now ;  and  so  does  Austin.  We 
can't  get  the  help  we  need  from  the  United  States  unless 
we  stand  on  our  own  bottom.  Then  the  word  of  Texas 
will  mean  something.  Now  Santa  Anna'll  never  let  us 
be  a  state  even.  We  must  fight  for  independence  and 
not  for  the  constitution.  And  you'll  see  Houston.  Make 
yourself  known  to  him.  He'll  remember  you.  Tell  him 
of  the  doings  at  Gonzales.  Tell  him  you've  just  come 
from  there,  and  that  the  people  all  along  the  route  need 
him." 

That  evening  of  February  28,  Ernest  rode,  weary  and 
dusty  again,  into  the  town  of  Washington  on  the  Brazos. 
It  was  filling  up  with  people :  there  were  a  few  volunteers 
attached  to  the  regular  army,  and  encamped,  and  many 
settlers  attracted  by  the  convention.  The  visitors  had 
tethered  their  horses  and  had  spread  their  blankets  in  the 
open.  The  Alamo  already  seemed  to  be  on  every  tongue, 
but  nobody  was  preparing  to  leave.  All  were  waiting. 

Ernest  sought  a  good  spot;  then  he  sought  Sam 
Houston.  He  quickly  sighted  him  seated  on  the  porch  of 
the  tavern,  surrounded  by  a  group  of  men.  No  one 
could  fail  to  pick  Sam  Houston  out  of  any  crowd. 
Ernest  elbowed  in  to  him. 

"  Well,  my  boy  ?  "  queried  the  general,  as  Ernest  stood 
before  him,  eyed  by  the  little  crowd.  "  Do  you  wish 
to  speak  to  me?  Excuse  me,  gentlemen." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Ernest,  saluting.  "  I'm  Ernest 
Merrill,  from  Gonzales.  I  knew  you  at  Fort  Gibson, 
too." 

"  I  remember,  I  remember,"  nodded  the  general, 
speaking  with  his  firm  resonant  voice.  "  From  Gonzales. 
When  did  you  arrive?  You  don't  bring  more  bad  news, 
I  trust." 

"  I  left  Gonzales  night  before  last,"  answered  Ernest. 
"Dick  Carroll  (he's  my  father)  left,  I  mean,  to  carry 

206 


INDEPENDENCE  IS  DECLABED 

Colonel  Travis 's  dispatch  to  San  Felipe,  and  I  rode  with 
him  because  he  was  sick.  Then  at  San  Felipe  we  had  to 
rest,  but  we  sent  the  message  on  up  here." 

"  Yes,"  soberly  nodded  the  general.  "  We  have  the 
message.  It  made  quick  time — remarkably  quick.  But 
what  of  Gonzales?  Are  the  people  rallying?  Did  you 
spread  the  word  along  the  road?  How  did  you  come?" 

"  By  Burnam's,  sir,"  replied  Ernest.  "  The  settlers 
are  going  to  Gonzales  as  fast  as  they  can  get  ready.  Cap- 
tain John  Smith  was  getting  a  company  together  at 
Gonzales  when  we  left  and  I  expect  they've  started  for 
the  Alamo,  but  they  won't  be  very  many.  Colonel 
Travis's  messenger  said  that  Colonel  Bonham  had  been 
sent  to  Goliad,  too,  for  help  from  Colonel  Fannin." 

The  general  excitedly  rose  and  stamped  back  and 
forth.  He  talked  as  he  strode. 

"  Slowly,  slowly,"  he  declared.  "  We  must  take  time. 
It  will  be  madness  for  small  bodies  to  attempt  the  Alamo 
now.  They  will  go  to  destruction.  Fannin  himself  is 
liable  to  be  cut  off,  and  Goliad  will  fall.  We  must 
organize.  We  must  have  discipline,  and  a  commander- 
in-chief.  The  convention  must  act  This  tragedy  would 
have  been  averted  if  Colonel  Neill  had  obeyed  orders  and 
evacuated.  Bexar  is  too  remote  on  the  frontier  to  be 
properly  defended  with  the  forces  at  our  disposal  yet. 
Now  what  are  we  to  do,  what  are  we  to  do?  First,  we 
must  have  harmony,  and  a  concerted  plan  of  action.  As 
for  Sam  Houston,  he  is  willing  to  do  anything — to  lead  or 
to  follow,  if  that  will  save  Texas.  Boy,"  he  continued, 
pausing,  to  Ernest,  "you  may  tell  your  people  at  Gon- 
zales that  Sam  Houston  is  at  the  service  of  Texas,  whether 
as  a  general  or  a  private  soldier.  The  enemy  shall  be 
met  and  defeated/' 

"  I  thought  I'd  stay  for  the  convention,"  hazarded 
Ernest.  "  Dick  Carroll  asked  me  to." 

"  You  look  tired,"  mused  the  general,  surveying  him. 
"You've  had  a  hard  ride  and  have  done  well.  Do  so, 

207 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

then;  stay,  and  you  will  see  history  made.  And,  by 
Heaven,  when  we  march  against  the  enemy  you  will  see 
more  history  made." 

This  was  Sunday  evening.  The  convention  was  called 
for  Tuesday,  for  February  of  1836  had  twenty-nine  days. 
To-night,  and  Monday,  Ernest  saw  a  number  of  dele- 
gates that  he  knew.  Matthew  Caldwell,  of  Gonzales,  was 
here — "  Old  Paint  "  the  Indian  fighter ;  and  so  was  Sam 
Maverick,  of  Bejar;  and  both  were  near  crazed  with 
anxiety  over  the  fate  of  their  families  and  their  homes. 
But  the  convention  must  act,  and  order  be  restored,  or  all 
would  indeed  be  lost.  Lorenzo  de  Zavala,  the  ex-presi- 
dent of  the  State  of  Mexico,  was  here;  and  Antonio 
Navarro,  formerly  of  Bejar,  a  brother  of  Angel  Navarro 
the  political  chief,  whose  house  had  been  shattered  in  the 
taking  of  Bejar,  but  a  friend  of  Texas;  and  Francisco 
Ruiz,  another  patriot;  and  Colonel  Thomas  Rusk,  who 
had  commanded  cavalry  at  the  siege  of  Bejar;  and  others 
— not  omitting  Sam  Houston. 

Who  should  blow  in,  Monday  morning,  but  Dick 
Carroll,  after  a  night's  ride.  Ernest,  for  one,  welcomed 
him  gladly. 

"  They're  fighting  at  the  Alamo,"  announced  Dick,  to 
his  listeners.  "  I've  brought  another  dispatch  from 
Travis,  date  of  twenty-fourth.  Delivered  it  to  Governor 
Smith.  Expect  we-all'll  hear  it  read  at  the  convention. 
It's  a  humdinger.  Travis  is  holding  out,  and  he  says 
he's  going  to  hold  out.  Boys,  there's  some  man !  You'll 
be  proud  when  you  hear  his  words.  Captain  Martin 
fetched  it  out  of  the  Alamo  to  Gonzales ;  Smither  brought 
it  on  to  San  Felipe;  and  I  carried  it  up  here.  Wanted 
to  come  anyway.  Cos,  they  say,  is  out  there ;  he's  broken 
his  parole.  And  Sesma,  and  Santa  Anna,  and  General 
Vincente  Filsola,  the  Italian:  the  best  officers  in  the 
Mexican  army.  But  Travis  and  Bowie  will  keep  them 
busy.  At  least,"  he  added,  "  they'll  try  to.  Martin  says 
the  Gonzales  company  is  going  straight  in.  That  will 

208 


INDEPENDENCE  IS  DECLARED 

help — a  little.     Haven't  heard  from  Fannin,  have  you?  " 

All  day  Monday  the  crisis  at  the  Alamo  lay  heavy 
upon  the  hearts  of  those  Texas  citizens  gathered  in  Wash- 
ington on  the  Brazos.  There  was  no  word  from  Colonel 
Fannin,  and  no  further  word  from  Colonel  Travis.  Still, 
among  the  near  200  men  collected  in  Washington,  nobody 
seemed  disposed  to  leave  and  join  the  rendezvous  at 
Gonzales.  Hanging  around  the  convention  hall  and  the 
tavern  and  the  army  headquarters,  they  were  waiting  for 
the  reorganization  of  Texas — for  some  declaration  to 
be  made,  a  government  to  be  re-established,  a  commander 
to  be  appointed,  and  an  army  provided  for. 

They  somewhat  reminded  Ernest  of  the  crowd  that 
he  had  read  waited  around  the  old  State  House  in  Phila- 
delphia, in  July  of  1776,  when  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  was  being  declared ;  but  they  also  appeared 
all  at  sea  to  know  what  to  do,  as  if  they  were  stunned. 
Meanwhile  boyish  Colonel  Travis,  and  the  brave  Jim 
Bowie,  and  probably  Colonel  Bonham,  and  young  Captain 
Dickinson  with  his  wife  and  baby,  and  Davy  Crockett, 
and  the  other  145,  were  defending  the  Alamo  against 
2000,  maybe  3000,  of  the  best  troops  of  Mexico,  led  by 
their  best  generals ! 

The  members  took  their  seats  on  this  Tuesday  morn- 
ing. There  were  about  sixty  delegates,  and  they  occupied 
all  the  benches.  The  rear  of  the  room  was  packed  with 
spectators  and  listeners,  standing,  and  the  throng  pressed 
against  the  windows  and  door.  Ernest,  being  a  boy, 
might  have  lost  out,  had  not  Captain  Matt  Caldwell,  who 
was  a  delegate,  taken  him  forward  and  placed  him  in  the 
front  rank  where  he  could  both  see  and  hear.  Dick 
Carroll  could  be  depended  upon  to  care  for  himself. 

The  first  thing  done  was  the  election  of  officers.  Mr. 
Richard  Ellis,  of  Pecan  Point,  the  Red  River  district,  was 
chosen  president  of  the  convention;  and  Mr.  H.  S. 
Kimball,  secretary.  President  Ellis  made  a  short  address ; 
and  then  he  announced  that  while  the  committees  were 

209 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

at  work,  he  would  read  a  document  that  had  been  handed 
to  him — "  of  the  most  important  character  ever  received 
by  any  assembly  of  men  " !  It  was  the  dispatch  brought 
by  Dick  Carroll. 

COMMANDANCY  OF  THE  ALAMO, 

Bejar,  Feb'y  24th,  1836. 
To  the  People  of  Texas  & 

all  Americans  in  the  World. 
Fellow-citizens  &  compatriots : 

I  am  besieged,  by  a  thousand  or  more  of  the  Mexicans 
under  Santa  Anna.  I  have  sustained  a  continual  Bom- 
bardment &  cannonade  for  24  hours  &  have  not  lost  a  man. 
The  enemy  has  demanded  a  surrender  at  discretion, 
otherwise  the  garrison  are  to  be  put  to  the  sword,  if  the 
fort  is  taken.  I  have  answered  the  demand  with  a 
cannon  shot,  &  our  flag  still  waves  proudly  from  the 
walls.  /  shall  never  surrender  or  retreat.  Then,  I  call 
on  you  in  the  name  of  Liberty,  of  Patriotism,  &  of  every- 
thing dear  to  the  American  character,  to  come  to  our 
aid,  with  all  dispatch.  The  enemy  is  receiving  reinforce- 
ments daily  &  will  no  doubt  increase  to  three  or  four 
thousand  in  four  or  five  days.  If  this  call  is  neglected, 
I  am  determined  to  sustain  myself  as  long  as  possible 
&  die  like  a  soldier  who  never  forgets  what  is  due  to  his 
own  honor  &  that  of  his  country.  VICTORY  OR  DEATH. 

WILLIAM  BARRET  TRAVIS, 
Lt-CoL,  coni'd't. 

P.  S. — The  Lord  is  on  our  side.  When  the  enemy 
appeared  in  sight  we  had  not  three  bushels  of  corn.  We 
have  since  found  in  deserted  houses  80  or  90  bushels  & 
got  into  the  walls  20  or  30  head  of  Beeves. 

TRAVIS. 

"  What  flag  is  that  he  mentioned  ?  "  asked  somebody 
behind  Ernest.  "  The  Lone  Star  flag  or  the  Independence 
flag  you  fellows  had  at  the  siege  ?  " 

"  I  reckon  maybe,"  answered  the  voice  of  Dick 
Carroll,  who  also  had  elbowed  to  the  front.  "They're 
out  there  somewhere,  like  as  not.  But  Smither  said 
Captain  Martin  said  they'd  raised  the  regular  Mexican 

210 


INDEPENDENCE  IS  DECLARED 

green,  white  and  red  tri-color,  with  '  1824 '  on  the  middle 
of  it,  signifying  the  constitution." 

However,  Chairman  Ellis  was  about  to  read  again. 

"  I  will  now  read  the  endorsements  from  the  express 
carriers,  on  the  back,"  he  said.  "  The  first : 

"  Since  the  above  was  written  I  heard  a  very  heavy 
cannonade  during  the  whole  day.  Think  there  must  have 
been  an  attack  on  the  Alamo.  We  were  short  of  am- 
munition when  I  left.  Hurry  all  the  men  you  can  forth. 
When  I  left  there  were  but  150  men  determined  to  do  or 
die.  To-morrow  I  leave  for  Bexar  with  what  men  I 
can.  Almonte  is  there.  The  troops  are  commanded  by 
General  Sesma.  '  ALBERT  MARTIN.'  " 

Captain  Martin  was  this,  of  Gonzales.  And  he  was 
going  back ! 

"  Now  the  second  endorsement,"  continued  Richard 
Ellis.  "As  follows: 

"I  hope  every  one  will  Rendeves  [gather]  at  Gon- 
zales as  soon  as  Possible  as  the  Brave  soldiers  are  suffer- 
ing ;  do  not  forget  the  powder  is  very  scarce  and  should 
not  be  delad  one  moment.  '  L.  SMITHER/  " 

Chairman  Ellis  refolded  the  dispatch  and  passed  it 
aside  to  the  secretary.  Later  it  was  read  again  by  many 
present. 

A  hush,  thrilled  with  the  murmur  and  stir  of  admira- 
tion, rage,  and  helplessness  followed  upon  the  reading. 
Several  men  attempted  excitedly  to  speak ;  but  the  chair- 
man motioned  them  down. 

"  You  have  heard  the  dispatch,"  he  said,  huskily. 
"  You  know  what  is  before  us.  The  delegates  will  now 
proceed  to  the  business  of  the  consultation." 

Committees  were  appointed;  and  the  convention 
adjourned  for  the  day. 

It  was  a  grim  evening  and  night  in  Washington.  The 
name  of  the  heroic  Travis  was  on  every  lip  and  in  every 
heart  was  the  fear  lest  a  great  Mexican  army  already 

211 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

had  overwhelmed  the  Alamo  and  were  sweeping  across 
for  the  settlements  eastward.  And  Gonzales,  Ernest  real- 
ized, would  be  the  first  to  fall  victim. 

"Houston!    Why  doesn't  Houston  go?" 

"  He  can't.     He's  a  delegate." 

"  But  he's  commander-in-chief ." 

"  No,  he  isn't.  He  had  to  quit  when  the  governor 
was  ousted.  The  council  was  ag'in  'em  both." 

"  Who's  our  head,  then  ?  Why  doesn't  the  conven- 
tion reappoint  him?  We've  got  to  have  somebody, 
quick." 

"  I  reckon  it  will.  But  maybe  he  won't  accept. 
Wouldn't  blame  him  any.  He's  been  treated  right 
shabbily." 

"Hell  take  it,"  assured  Dick  Carroll.  "There's 
nothing  small  or  picayune  about  Sam  Houston.  And 
fighting  for  independence,  under  Houston,  we'll  lick  Santa 
Anna  out  of  his  boots." 

Nevertheless,  upon  the  forms  sitting  enveloped  in 
their  blankets,  or  lying  to  try  to  sleep,  rested  a  gloom 
not  of  the  night  alone.  In  the  headquarters  of  General 
Houston  a  light  burned  until  almost  morning. 

After  breakfast  the  reassembling  of  the  convention 
was  eagerly  awaited.  No  more  news  from  Colonel  Travis 
had  arrived ;  but  report  stated  that  during  the  night  the 
delegates  had  drawn  up  a  declaration  of  independence, 
and  that  it  was  about  ready  for  adoption.  The  report 
proved  true.  Soon  after  the  convention  was  called  to 
order,  President  Ellis  arose,  a  mass  of  foolscap  paper  in 
his  hand,  and  stated  that  he  would  have  the  secretary  read 
the  report  of  the  committee  upon  an  announcement  of  the 
Republic  of  Texas. 

"  The  Unanimous  Declaration  of  Independence  made  by  the 
Delegates  of  the  People  of  Texas  in  General  Convention  at  the 
Town  of  Washington,  on  the  2nd  day  of  March,  1836,"  read 
Secretary  Kimball. 

"  When  a  government  has  ceased  to  protect  the  lives,  liberty 

212 


INDEPENDENCE  IS  DECLARED 

and  property  of  the  people,  from  whom  its  legitimate  powers  are 
derived,  and  for  the  advancement  of  whose  happiness  it  was 
instituted,  and  so  far  from  being  a  guarantee  for  the  enjoyment 
of  those  inestimable  and  inalienable  rights,  becomes  an  instru- 
ment in  the  hands  of  evil  rulers  for  their  oppression :  When  the 
Federal  Republican  Constitution  of  their  country,  which  they 
have  sworn  to  support,  no  longer  has  a  substantial  existence,  and 
the  whole  nature  of  their  government  has  been  forcibly  changed, 
without  their  consent,  from  a  restricted  federative  republic, 
composed  of  sovereign  states,  to  a  consolidated,  central, 
military  despotism  .  .  ."  continued  Secretary  Kimball,  in  a 
long  introduction ;  then  "  self-preservation  "  and  "  a  right  towards 
themselves  and  a  sacred  obligation  to  their  posterity"  warrant  a 
people  "  to  abolish  such  government "  and  to  create  another  safer 
and  happier. 

"  Nations,  as  well  as  individuals,  are  amenable  for  their  acts 
to  the  public  opinion  of  mankind  [proceeded  the  declaration]. 
A  statement  of  a  part  of  our  grievances  is,  therefore,  submitted 
to  an  impartial  world,  in  justification  of  the  hazardous  but  un- 
avoidable step  now  taken  of  severing  our  political  connection 
with  the  Mexican  people,  and  assuming  an  independent  attitude 
among  the  nations  of  the  earth." 

The  Mexican  government  had  pledged  the  colonists  liberty  of 
action  under  a  republic  and  a  constitution,  and  now  had  sub- 
mitted it  to  a  military  despotism  under  General  Antonio  Lopez  de 
Santa  Anna.  It  had  refused  to  grant  an  appeal,  according  to  the 
constitution,  for  statehood  separate  from  unfriendly  Coahuila. 
It  had  imprisoned  Stephen  Austin.  It  had  refused  to  provide 
trial  by  jury.  It  had  provided  no  schools  or  other  means  of  public 
education.  It  had  allowed  the  soldiers  to  oppress  the  citizens. 
It  had  forced  the  state  congress  of  Texas  and  Coahuila  to  dissolve. 
It  had  demanded  the  surrender  of  citizens,  for  an  imprisonment 
without  a  trial  It  had  seized  trading  vessels.  It  had  interfered 
with  religious  liberty.  It  had  demanded  the  delivery  of  private 
arms.  It  was  invading  Texas  with  an  army,  to  drive  the  people 
from  their  homes.  It  was  inciting  the  Indians  to  attack  the 
colonists.  It  was,  and  ever  had  been,  a  "weak,  corrupt,  and 
tyrannical  government." 

"These,  and  other  grievances,  were  patiently  borne  by  the 
people  of  Texas  [continued  Mr.  Kimball,  reading]  until  they 

213 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

reached  that  point  at  which  forbearance  ceases  to  be  a  virtue. 
We  then  took  up  arms  in  defence  of  the  national  constitution. 
We  appealed  to  our  Mexican  brethren  for  assistance.  Our  appeal 
lias  been  made  in  vain.  Though  months  have  elapsed,  no  sympa- 
thetic response  has  yet  been  heard  from  the  Interior.  We  are, 
therefore,  forced  to  the  melancholy  conclusion  that  the  Mexican 
people  have  acquiesced  in  the  destruction  of  their  liberty,  and  the 
substitution  therefor  of  a  Military  Government — that  they  are 
unfit  to  be  free  and  incapable  of  self-government. 

"The  necessity  of  self-preservation,  therefore,  now  decrees 
our  eternal  political  separation. 

"We,  therefore  [and  the  reader's  voice  rose  firmly],  the 
delegates,  with  plenary  powers,  of  the  people  of  Texas,  in  solemn 
convention  assembled,  appealing  to  a  candid  world  for  the  neces- 
sities of  our  condition,  do  hereby  resolve  and  declare  that  our 
political  connection  with  the  Mexican  nation  has  forever  ended, 
and  that  the  people  of  Texas  do  now  constitute  a  -free  sovereign 
and  independent  republic,  and  are  fully  invested  with  all  the 
rights  and  attributes  which  properly  belong  to  independent 
nations;  and,  conscious  of  the  rectitude  of  our  intentions,  we 
fearlessly  and  confidently  commit  the  issue  to  the  decision  of 
the  Supreme  Arbiter  of  the  destinies  of  Nations." 

The  secretary  evidently  had  finished  the  reading  of  the 
declaration.  He  turned  and  resumed  his  seat  at  his  little 
table  on  the  platform.  There  was  an  instant  of  dead 
silence,  while  the  people  present  tried  to  realize  that 
Texas  was  no  longer  to  be  attached  to  Mexico. 

"  You  have  heard  the  report  of  the  committee," 
addressed  President  Ellis,  his  voice  clear.  "Are  there 
any  objections?  " 

A  snuffle  of  impatient  feet  had  begun ;  and 

"  No !  No !  "  swelled  the  shout,  in  a  great  volley,  from 
delegates  and  visitors  alike. 

"  The  chair  hears  no  objections.  All  in  favor  of 
adopting  the  report  as  it  stands  will  signify  by  saying 
'Aye/  " 

"Aye!    Aye!" 

"  The  report,  declaring  Texas  a  free  and  independent 
2H 


INDEPENDENCE  IS  DECLARED 

republic,  is  adopted/'  announced  President  Ellis.  "  The 
delegates  will  please  step  forward  and  sign  the  declara- 
tion." 

One  by  one,  in  a  constant  file,  the  delegates  advanced 
to  the  secretary's  table  upon  the  platform,  and  attached 
their  signatures  to  the  paper.  The  president  first;  and 
in  due  order  Antonio  Navarro,  and  Captain  Caldwell, 
and  de  Zavala,  and  Colonel  Rusk,  and  the  towering  form 
of  Sam  Houston,  and  all — fifty-eight  in  number. 

Now  indeed  had  the  silence  been  broken,  and  well 
broken.  From  the  crowd  in  the  rear  of  the  hall  and 
pressing  outside  pealed  cheer  upon  cheer,  echoed  from 
beyond  as  fast  sped  the  news.  Hats  were  swung,  guns 
spoke.  Ernest,  on  tiptoe,  swung  his  hat  and  added  his 
shrill  voice  to  the  clamor.  Near  him  somebody  was 
singing,  and  the  chant  spread. 

For  this  we  are  determined,  that  Texas  shall  be  free; 
And  TEXAS  TRIUMPHANT  our  watchword  shall  be ! 

And  200  miles  to  the  west,  young  William  Travis  and 
his  little  band  were  fighting  desperately  for  this  new 
Republic  of  which  they  were  destined  never  to  be  told; 
while  Colonel  Fannin's  wagons  had  broken  down  and  he 
had  been  forced  back  into  Goliad  again. 


XV 

THE  SIGNAL  GUNS  OF  THE  ALAMO 

LITTLE  more  was  done  this  day.  It  was  reported  that 
the  committees  were  busy  preparing  a  constitution  for  the 
new  Republic  of  Texas  and  revising  plans  for  an  army 
and  navy.  Most  of  the  delegates  remained  in  the  con- 
vention hall,  where  the  committees  were  meeting;  and 
the  visitors  waited  outside,  under  the  trees.  The  office 
of  governor  and  council  had  now  passed  out  of  existence, 
so  the  quarrel  between  the  two  parties  need  not  be 
considered. 

General  Houston  was  closeted  with  a  committee,  the 
main  part  of  the  day,  discussing  the  military  measures. 
But  in  the  afternoon  there  was  read  a  short  address  from 
him  to  the  people  of  Texas. 

CONVENTION  HALL,  March  2,  1836. 
War  is  raging  on  the  frontiers.  Bexar  is  besieged 
by  two  thousand  of  the  enemy  under  command  of  General 
Sesma.  Reinforcements  are  on  the  march  to  unite  with 
the  besieging  army.  By  the  last  report  our  force  at  Bexar 
was  only  one  hundred  and  fifty  men.  The  citizens  of 
Texas  must  rally  to  the  aid  of  our  army  or  it  will  perish. 
Let  the  citizens  of  the  East  march  to  the  combat.  The 
enemy  must  be  driven  from  our  soil  or  desolation  will 
accompany  their  march  upon  us.  Independence  is  de- 
clared. It  must  be  maintained.  Immediate  action,  united1 
with  valor,  can  alone  achieve  our  great  work.  The  ser- 
vices of  all  are  forthwith  required  in  the  field. 

SAM  HOUSTON, 

Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army. 

P.  S. — It  is  rumored  that  the  enemy  are  on  their  march 
to  Gonzales,  and  that  they  have  entered  the  colonies.  The 
fate  of  Bexar  is  unknown.  The  country  must  and  shall 
be  defended.  The  patriots  of  Texas  are  appealed  to  in 
behalf  of  their  bleeding  country. 

216 


THE  SIGNAL  GUNS  OF  THE  ALAMO 

The  postscript  sounded  bad,  and  Ernest  turned  with 
whitened  face  to  Dick. 

"  Do  you  think  they  have  attacked  Gonzales,  Dick?  " 

"  No,  I  don't.  They  wouldn't  attack  Gonzales  until 
they've  taken  Bejar.  We  can't  believe  all  the  rumors  we 
hear.  The  whole  country's  panicky.  If  Fannin  marches 
through  and  gets  in  with  his  men,  he  and  Travis  will  hold 
the  Alamo  ag'in  all  Mexico.  Reckon,  too,  by  this  time 
the  Brazos  and  Colorado  people  are  rallying  into  Gonzales, 
and  Captain  Martin  has  led  a  bunch  to  help  Travis.  And 
there  are  a  hundred  and  more  able-bodied  men  right  here 
who  ought  to  organize  and  go." 

"  Why  don't  they  go,  then,  Dick?  Why  don't  we  all 
go?" 

"  Chiefly  because  we're  sorter  at  sea,  yet.  Most  of 
the  men  have  families  at  home.  Who'd  protect  them? 
And  where  are  our  leaders?  Fannin  and  Johnson  are 
like  as  not  cut  off,  down  at  Goliad.  Travis  and  Bowie 
are  yonder  in  the  Alamo.  And  here's  Sam  Houston, 
waiting  instructions." 

"  But  he  signs  himself  commander-in-chief,  Dick." 

"  Yes,  a  commander-in-chief  without  an  army.  Be- 
sides, he  was  commander-in-chief  under  the  old  make- 
shift government,  formed  to  tide  us  along.  Now  we've 
got  a  new  one,  a  republic,  and  all  officers'll  have  to  be 
sworn  in  over  again.  He'll  be  appointed,  though,  as  soon 
as  plans  for  the  army  are  drawn.  You  know  what  day 
this  is,  don't  you  ?  " 

"  Yes.     March  second." 

"  And  Sam  Houston's  birthday !  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence was  adopted  on  Sam  Houston's  birthday,  and 
that's  a  good  sign/' 

The  next  day  dragged,  filled  with  wild  rumors,  while 
the  convention  still  prepared  for  defense  and  the  opera- 
tion of  the  new  government.  It  seemed  to  be  the  great 
hope  of  everybody  at  Washington  that  Sam  Houston 
would  be  reappointed  to  the  head  of  the  army  at  once; 

217 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

about  all  the  men  appeared  to  think  that  he  would  save 
Texas  from  Santa  Anna,  if  anyone  could. 

A  large  crowd  were  already  gathered  about  the  hall 
when  on  the  next  morning,  of  Friday,  March  4,  Ernest 
hastened  to  learn  what  was  up.  But  the  program  seemed 
to  be  devoted  mainly  to  the  report  of  the  military  com- 
mittee. It  recommended  a  strong  militia,  and  granted 
1280  acres  of  land  to  every  volunteer  who  served  through- 
out the  war;  and  there  was  to  be  a  major-general  in 
command  of  the  whole  army — regulars,  volunteers  and 
militia — when  in  the  field. 

This  was  rather  dull  reading.  General  Houston  was 
not  present,  but  having  wormed  his  way  out  for  a  breath 
of  air  Ernest  saw  him  on  the  tavern  porch.  A  letter  had 
just  been  handed  to  him  by  a  horseman,  and,  watched  by 
a  group  of  by-standers  who  had  collected,  he  was 
reading  it. 

"  Gentlemen,  a  letter  from  Colonel  Fannin,  to  a  friend, 
and  forwarded,  in  a  copy,  for  my  perusal/'  he  announced, 
as  Ernest  sidled  near.  "  It  is  the  last  news  from  Goliad, 
date  of  February  twenty-eight.  I  hope  that  the  news 
from  the  Alamo  will  be  no  worse.  I  will  read  an  extract 
from  it,  which  indicates  the  spirit  of  a  brave  man.  A 
Mexican  force  has  already  advanced  upon  him,  and  it  is 
unlikely  that  he  can  effect  a  juncture  with  Travis.  How- 
ever, he  says: 

" '  I  have  about  four  hundred  and  twenty  men  here, 
and  if  I  can  get  provisions  in  to-morrow  or  next  day,  can 
maintain  myself  against  any  force.  I  will  never  give  up 
the  ship  while  there  is  a  pea  in  the  ditch.  If  I  am  whipped 
it  will  be  well  done,  and  you  may  never  expect  to  see  me. 
I  hope  to  see  all  Texans  in  arms  soon.  If  not,  we  shall 
lose  our  homes,  and  must  go  east  of  the  Trinity  for 
awhile/  " 

"  Signed,"  continued  the  general, '  J.  W.  Fannin,  Jr.'  " 

"  Fannin  makes  only  the  one  error  in  that  letter,"  spoke 

Colonel  George  Hockley,  who  was  the  general's  aide. 

218 


THE  SIGNAL  GUNS  OF  THE  ALAMO 

u  A  man  who  will  '  never  give  up  the  ship '  can  be  killed 
but  he  can't  be  whipped." 

"If  the  Alamo  can  hold  out  until  we  relieve  it,  there 
will  be  no  danger  to  Fannin,"  mused  the  general.  "  And 
if  he  will  obey  the  orders  of  his  superiors,  whoever  they 
may  be, " 

But  a  sudden  shout  from  the  convention  hall  inter- 
rupted him.  The  cries  swelled,  spreading  to  the  crowd 
outside  the  door. 

"  Houston !     Houston !     Speech !     Speech !  " 

A  man  came  running. 

"You're  wanted  inside  the  hall,  general,"  he  said. 
"  You've  been  elected  commander-in-chief ,  on  first  ballot ; 
fifty-five  votes  for  you,  only  one  against." 

"  I  accept,"  remarked  the  general,  solemnly.  "  I  will 
be  there  directly,  but  this  is  a  time  for  acting,  not  for 
talking." 

He  strode  for  the  convention  hall,  and  most  of  the 
group  with  him.  Ernest  squirmed  in.  The  general 
appeared  on  the  rude  platform,  and  spoke  briefly,  thanking 
the  convention  and  the  people  of  Texas  for  the  honor 
paid  to  him.  Scarcely  had  he  concluded  when  a  delegate 
arose. 

"  I  move  that  it  be  the  sense  of  this  convention  that 
Major-General  Sam  Houston  immediately  depart  for  the 
army,  or  resign." 

A  storm  of  cheers  and  hisses  followed.  The  general 
waited.  He  levelled  his  finger  at  the  delegate,  and 
answered  for  himself. 

"  I  trust  that  the  gentleman  will  withdraw  his  motion. 
In  that  belief  I  will  state  that  my  purpose  is  to  start  for 
the  army  on  the  morrow  morning,  and  I  will  be  glad  to 
have  the  gentleman's  company!" 

What  a  round  of  cheers  and  laughter  now  resounded ! 

"  I  withdraw  my  motion,"  stammered  the  delegate, 
much  confused  by  the  unexpected  challenge  and  the 
uproar,  and  sat  down. 

219 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

However,  the  general  did  not  leave  on  the  next  day. 
The  convention  had  adjourned  over  Saturday  and  Sun- 
day, to  enable  the  committees  to  prepare  further  reports. 
There  was  much  important  work  yet  to  be  done,  ere  the 
Republic  of  Texas  was  organized ;  a  constitution  must  be 
adopted,  and  the  republic's  officers  elected.  General 
Houston  had  his  duties  to  perform  as  a  delegate ;  and, 
besides,  he  was  waiting  for  instructions. 

The  delay  was  exasperating;  but  it  seemed  necessary. 
If  the  Alamo  would  only  hold  out !  Surely  the  volunteers 
at  Gonzales  were  marching  to  help  it ! 

Sunday  morning,  which  was  March  6,  Ernest  had 
taken  a  walk  about,  exploring  (for  it  was  rather  trying, 
just  to  lie  'round),  when  a  commotion  in  town  caught  his 
ear  and  eye.  Men  were  hurrying  to  gather  in  a  crowd  on 
the  street,  as  if  surrounding  some  speaker.  So  back  into 
the  excitement  sped  Ernest.  News  from  the  Alamo, 
perhaps!  Another  messenger!  Or  had  Colonel  Fannin 
been  attacked,  too!  Or  Gonzales  taken!  Or  perhaps 
Colonel  Travis  had  driven  off  the  Mexicans! 

A  weary,  drooping  horse,  dust  streaked  and  sweat 
stained,  stood  loosely  tethered  to  the  hitching  rail  in  front 
of  the  tavern:  the  horse  of  a  dispatch-bearer,  surely! 
Beyond,  were  the  group  of  men,  encircling  close  another 
man,  who  was  answering  questions.  Ernest  lost  no  time 
in  worming  his  way  where  he  could  peer  and  listen. 

The  man  was  Captain  John  W.  Smith,  of  Gonzales. 
Yes — Captain  Smith,  himself,  who,  when  Ernest  and 
Dick  Carroll  had  left  ten  days  ago  on  their  ride  to  San 
Felipe,  was  collecting  a  company  for  the  help  of  Colonel 
Travis.  Now  his  beard  and  all  his  face  were  covered 
with  dust  and  grime,  his  eyes  were  weary,  and  his  boots 
and  clothes  likewise  showed  long,  hard  travel. 

"  I  left  the  Alamo  before  daybreak  of  the  third,"  he 
was  answering  to  eager  questions.  "  Thirty  of  us  from 
Gonzales  got  in  there  at  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  first.  Travis  sent  me  out  with  this  dispatch,  and  I 

220 


THE  SIGNAL  GUNS  OF  THE  ALAMO 

came  through,  night  and  day,  by  the  shortest  trail ;  crossed 
the  Colorado  at  Moore's  Retreat,  north  of  Burnam's, 
and  then  through  the  prairie  to  Washington.  Travis  was 
all  right  when  I  left;  still  holding  out.  He  had  about 
one  hundred  eighty  men.  Bonham  managed  to  break 
back  from  Fannin,  and  arrived  just  as  I  left.  He  could 
have  stayed  away,  but  he  didn't.  He  said  he'd  bring  word 
from  Fannin  or  die.  He's  a  great  friend  of  Travis  and 
Bowie,  you  know.  There  were  about  a  hundred  and 
fifty  volunteers  at  Gonzales  when  I  passed  through." 

"  Isn't  Fannin  going?  " 

"  He  sent  word  by  Bonham  that  he'd  try,  but  we  think 
the  Mexicans  have  cut  him  off.  He'll  certainly  come  if 
he  can.  There's  no  braver  man  alive  than  Jim  Fannin." 

"  Why  don't  the  men  at  Gonzales  march  ?  " 

"  Why  don't  you  men  march  ?  It  isn't  a  question  of 
a  hundred  or  two,  now.  The  Mexican  lines  are  drawn 
too  close.  I  doubt  if  even  another  dispatch  will  get  out; 
the  country  around  Be  jar  is  thick  with  Mexican  patrols. 
Santa  Anna's  there,  remember ;  and  so  is  Cos,  who  broke 
his  parole  just  to  get  a  revenge  for  the  licking  we  gave 
him." 

"How's  the  Alamo?  Shot  up  much?  Many  killed? 
What  does  Travis  say  now  ?  " 

"  Nobody's  been  hurt,  except  Mexicans.  We  were 
short  of  ammunition,  though.  Bowie's  sick  in  bed.  The 
men  are  fighting  night  and  day,  and  they'll  never  surren- 
der. I  fetched  two  dispatches:  one  for  the  convention, 
and  the  other  a  letter  to  a  friend  of  Travis.  Travis  says : 
'  Take  care  of  my  little  boy.  If  the  country  should  be 
saved,  I  may  make  him  a  splendid  fortune;  but  if  the 
country  should  be  lost,  and  I  should  perish,  he  will  have 
nothing  but  the  proud  recollection  that  he  is  the  son  of 
a  man  who  died  for  his  country.'  Travis  told  me  to  say 
to  the  people  that  as  long  as  he  held  out  he'd  fire  a  signal 
gun  every  morning  at  sunrise." 

"  Everybody  to  the  convention  hall !  "  was  the  sudden 
221 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

hail.  "Delegates  and  everybody  to  the  convention  hall. 
Special  meeting/' 

Men  were  already  pushing  in  through  the  doorway; 
the  group  about  Captain  Smith  dissolved  quickly.  He 
staggered  stiffly  in  the  rear  of  the  hurrying  procession; 
Ernest  nimbly  darted  ahead,  and  squeezed  in  with  the 
crowd. 

Most  of  the  delegates  were  in  their  seats.  President 
Richard  Ellis  and  Secretary  Kimball  were  in  their  places, 
waiting.  Mr.  Ellis  held  a  piece  of  soiled  paper  in  his 
hand.  He  arose,  and  amidst  a  tense  silence  looked  over 
the  assemblage.  His  face  was  pale  and  haggard,  and 
Ernest  could  barely  hear  his  words. 

"  I  have  just  received  by  special  courier,  who  has 
ridden  the  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles  in  less  than 
four  days,  another  message  from  Colonel  Travis  in  the 
Alamo,  addressed  to  this  convention,"  he  said.  "  It  is 
of  such  importance  that  I  feel  it  should  be  communicated 
at  once.  The  date  is  March  3 — or  only  last  Thursday." 

He  proceeded  to  read ;  but  amidst  the  confusion  of 
shuffling  feet  and  twisting  bodies,  as  the  listeners  strained 
to  hear,  and  amidst  the  interruptions  by  cheers  and  other 
exclamations,  Ernest  missed  a  sentence  now  and  then. 
But  he  heard  enough. 

I  am  still  here  in  fine  spirits  and  well-to-do  [wrote 
the  gallant  Colonel  Travis].  With  one  hundred  and 
forty-five  men,  I  have  held  the  place  against  a  force 
variously  estimated  from  between  fifteen  hundred  to  six 
thousand,  and  I  shall  continue  to  hold  it  until  I  get  relief 
from  my  countrymen,  or  I  will  perish  in  its  defense. 
We  have  had  a  shower  of  bombs  and  cannon  balls  contin- 
ually falling  among  us  the  whole  time;  yet  none  of  us 
have  fallen.  We  have  been  miraculously  preserved. 
["  Hurrah !  "  cheered  voices,  drowning  the  voice  of  Mr. 
Ellis.]  Again,  I  feel  confident  that  the  determined  spirit 
and  desperate  courage  heretofore  exhibited  by  my  men 
will  not  fail  them  in  the  last  struggle ;  and  although  they 
may  be  sacrificed  to  the  vengeance  of  a  Gothic  enemy, 

222 


THE  SIGNAL  GUNS  OF  THE  ALAMO 

the  victory  will  cost  the  enemy  so  dear  that  it  will  be 
worse  than  a  defeat.  ["  Hurrah !  "J  A  blood-red  flag 
waves  from  the  church  of  Bexar  and  in  the  camp  above  us, 
in  token  that  the  war  is  one  of  vengeance  against  rebels. 
["  Texas  and  liberty !  Down  with  tyranny !  Hurrah !  "] 
These  threats  have  had  no  influence  upon  my  men  but  to 
make  all  fight  with  desperation  and  with  that  high-souled 
courage  which  characterize  the  patriot  who  is  willing  to 
die  in  defense  of  his  country;  liberty  and  his  own  honor; 
God  and  Texas ;  victory  or  death ! 

WILLIAM  BARRET  TRAVIS, 
Lt.-Col.  Commanding. 

President  Ellis  had  finished,  and  all  the  hall  was  in  an 
uproar.  This  last  despairing  but  noble  appeal  from 
Colonel  Travis  in  the  hard-fighting  Alamo,  had  stirred 
every  heart  and  rocked  every  form.  Men  were  shouting, 
crying,  gesticulating.  A  score  of  the  delegates  were  on 
their  feet.  Delegate  Robert  Potter  made  himself  heard. 

"  I  now  move  that  this  convention  do  immediately 
adjourn,  arm,  and  march  to  the  relief  of  the  Alamo,"  he 
excitedly  proposed. 

"  To  the  Alamo !  To  the  Alamo !  "  And  the  crowd 
began  to  surge. 

"  No !  No !  Wait !  "  It  was  the  deep,  ringing  voice 
of  General  Houston.  He  had  risen,  his  hand  extended 
commandingly ;  and  at  the  summons  of  his  powerful  tones 
ai*d  his  massive  figure  every  eye  was  turned  and  every 
tongue  was  stilled.  "  Hear  me,"  he  bade.  "  I  have 
gathered  that  there  is  a  sentiment  we  do  immediately 
adjourn  and  proceed,  armed,  to  the  Alamo.  I  have  heard 
the  gentleman's  motion,  and  know  that  it  springs  from 
a  natural  impulse,  common  to  brave  men,  to  succor  one's 
fellow  patriots  beleaguered  by  a  ruthless  enemy.  No 
one  would  be  more  prompt  to  obey  that  impulse  than  I. 
But  I  must  oppose  the  motion.  Such  an  adjournment  of 
this  body  would  be  a  madness  worse  than  treason  to  the 
people.  We  are  met  here  to  form  a  government.  We 
must  have  a  government,  in  organic  form ;  for  without  an 

223 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

organized  government  Mexico  would  be  entitled  to  regard 
us  as  outlaws,  and  to  the  world  outside  we  would  be  only 
rebels,  and  we  would  fail  to  obtain  the  sympathy  and  the 
respect  of  mankind.  What  can  fifty,  or  one  hundred 
men  do  against  six  thousand  ?  The  delegates  to  this  con- 
vention were  elected  by  the  people  of  Texas  to  establish 
a  firm  and  stable  government.  We  have  declared  our  in- 
dependence, but  the  work  must  not  stop  there.  The 
declaration  will  be  nothing  without  measures  of  law  that 
will  give  it  due  weight  among  the  other  nations  of  the 
world.  The  perils  of  the  republic  cannot  be  averted  by 
arms  alone — and  never  has  Texas  faced  a  greater  crisis 
than  she  faces  now.  I  entreat  the  convention  to  be  both 
wise  and  patriotic.  Let  it  sit  calmly,  even  amidst  war, 
and  with  firmness  pursue  its  deliberations.  Feel  no 
alarm,  gentlemen.  We  have  already  a  small  but  brave 
force  at  Gonzales.  I  will  proceed  there  at  once,  inter- 
pose a  barrier  of  patriotic  citizens  between  the  enemy 
and  this  hall,  and  while  the  convention  chooses  to  sit  in 
session  no  foreign  foe  shall  approach  except  over  my  dead 
body.  Meanwhile,  if  mortal  power  can  avail,  our  brave 
countrymen  in  the  Alamo  shall  be  relieved." 

More  General  Houston  said,  speaking  vehemently. 
The  hall  listened  eager  and  convinced.  Never  had  such 
an  inspiring  address  been  there  delivered,  and  none  to 
equal  it  ever  followed.  Truly,  the  general  was  a  great 
orator. 

At  the  conclusion  he  bowed,  and  strode  rapidly  out. 
The  delegates  remained,  and  so  did  most  of  the  crowd ; 
but  Dick  Carroll  clapped  Ernest  on  the  shoulder.  Ernest 
had  not  known  that  Dick  was  so  near. 

"Come,"  said  Dick.  And  Ernest  dived  through,  after 
him,  to  the  outside.  "  Get  your  horse  and  fixin's,"  bade 
Dick.  "  And  meet  me  yonder  as  quick  as  you  can." 

"  Where  are  we  going,  Dick  ?  " 

"We're  going  with  the  general,"  and  Dick  nodded 
toward  the  large  figure  in  the  whitish  hat,  rapidly  making 

224 


THE  SIGNAL  GUNS  OF  THE  ALAMO 

his  way  toward  his  headquarters.  "  When  he  starts  we 
start — and  I  reckon  'twon't  be  long,  either/' 

"To  Gonzales,  Dick?"  queried  Ernest,  over  his 
shoulder  as  he  turned. 

"  Yes.  To  Gonzales,  and  wherever  else  we're  needed. 
When  Sam  Houston  leaves  it's  time  for  us  to  leave.  We 
aren't  delegates." 

Ernest  hastened  for  his  horse  and  gun  and  blanket, 
his  heart  beating  gladly.  Nothing  loth  was  he  to  go,  not 
even  if  General  Houston  led  into  the  Alamo  itself.  He 
could  help  at  Gonzales,  anyway.  Perhaps  Jim  and  Sion 
were  there,  with  the  volunteers.  And  Leo  was  liable  to 
turn  up,  too. 

Wrhen  he  had  bridled  and  saddled,  and  rode  back, 
•Dick  was  ready  and  waiting;  and  several  saddled  horses 
had  been  tethered  in  front  of  the  general's  headquarters. 
Presently  the  general  issued ;  with  him  Colonel  Hockley, 
his  chief  of  staff.  They  were  armed  with  pistols,  and 
the  general  wore  a  heavy  sword,  in  its  scabbard,  belted 
around  his  buckskin  hunting  coat.  They  stuffed  some 
things  into  their  saddle-bags,  and  tied  their  blanket  rolls 
behind  their  saddles  a  little  tighter. 

Dick  pricked  his  horse,  and  followed  by  Ernest  rode 
forward.  By  this  time  two  other  men  had  joined,  and 
were  sitting  their  horses  near. 

"  All  ready,  general  ?  "  queried  Dick,  saluting. 

The  general  glanced  up. 

"  All  ready,  sir."  He  gazed  inquiringly  about.  His 
eyes  rested  a  moment  upon  Ernest  (who  tried  to  sit  as 
manlike  as  he  could),  and  his  face  softened  into  the  glim- 
mer of  a  smile.  "  This,  then,  is  the  force  that  proposes 
to  accompany  a  general  to  his  army  ?  " 

"  I  reckon  it  is,"  answered  one  of  the  first  two  men. 

The  general  climbed  into  his  saddle  and  gathered  the 
lines ;  Colonel  Hockley  did  the  same. 

"Very  well,"  spoke  the  general.  "Gentlemen,  I 
thank  you  and  shall  be  glad  of  your  society.  A  dispatch 

225 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

will  go  to  Goliad,  directing  Colonel  Fannin  to  march  at 
all  speed  and  unite  his  troops  with  ours  on  the  Cibolo 
beyond  Gonzales.  We  may  yet  rescue  Travis.  The  re- 
sult is  in  the  hands  of  an  all-wise  God,  and  I  rely  con- 
fidently upon  His  Providence.  Texas  shall  be  free/' 

He  touched  his  horse  with  the  spur,  and  rode  off  at  a 
smart  canter.  Colonel  Hockley  fell  in  beside  him.  The 
two  other  men  followed,  and  Dick  and  Ernest  closed  the 
rear.  Less  than  an  hour  had  passed  since  the  great  speech 
in  the  convention  hall.  But  no  cheers  sent  them  off. 
Scarcely  anybody  paid  attention.  It  seemed  to  Ernest 
rather  a  forlorn  start. 

All  day  they  steadily  rode  on  the  trail  that  conducted 
westward  across  a  wide  fertile  prairie  of  high  grass  and 
flowers  broken  by  tree  islands  and  by  bottom-lands  where 
grew  the  wild  rye  and  the  cane.  Sixty-five  miles  was  it 
from  Washington  on  the  Brazos  to  the  Colorado  at 
Moore's  Retreat,  or  Moore's  Ferry,  as  it  was  also  called. 
From  Moore's  to  Gonzales  was  forty-five  miles.  From 
Gonzales  to  Bejar  was  seventy  or  seventy-five. 

They  passed  a  number  of  ranches.  Most  of  the  men 
were  at  Washington  or  at  Gonzales ;  and  those  who  were 
left  at  home,  and  the  women-folk,  appeared  terror- 
stricken  by  the  rumors  that  they  had  heard.  At  dusk 
the  general  halted  for  camp,  amidst  the  luxuriant  grasses, 
by  a  little  stream;  the  horses  were  turned  out  on  their 
picket  ropes  to  graze,  a  cold  supper  was  eaten,  and 
blankets  were  spread.  Only  a  few  words  were  spoken. 
The  general  seemed  depressed  and  anxious;  heavy  care 
had  settled  on  him. 

In  the  morning  Ernest  was  aroused  before  sunrise. 
Dick  and  the  other  men  were  astir,  and  were  standing 
watching  the  general.  He  had  walked  aside,  to  a  clear 
spot,  and  was  stooping,  with  his  ear  against  the  ground. 

"  Listening,  Injun  fashion,  for  the  signal  guns  of  the 
Alamo,"  spoke  Dick,  in  a  low  voice.  "  Sound  travels  far 
along  the  earth — you  can  feel  the  shaking  there  when  you 

226 


THE  SIGNAL  GUNS  OF  THE  ALAMO 

can't  feel  a  thing,  upright.  Smith  said  he  heard  the 
guns  when  he  was  a  hundred  miles  away;  but  we're  too 
far,  too  far — a  hundred  and  fifty,  at  least." 

The  sun  rose,  suddenly  flooding  the  green  prairie  with 
golden  beams,  and  illuminating  the  slight  fog  which  hung 
in  patches  over  the  bottoms.  Everybody  held  himself 
tense,  watching  the  general.  It  was  the  moment  for  the 
signal  guns.  For  five  minutes — yes,  for  ten  minutes,  a 
long,  long  space — there  was  utter  silence  broken  only  by 
the  twitter  of  birds.  The  general  abruptly  straightened, 
shook  his  head,  replaced  his  big  whitish  hat,  and  returned 
to  the  camp. 

"No  go,"  remarked  Dick.  "But,"  he  hopefully 
added,  "  we're  too  far,  yet,  general." 

General  Houston  did  not  reply.  They  snatched  a 
hasty  breakfast,  saddled,  and  rode.  This  day  they 
approached  the  Colorado.  The  next  day  they  crossed  it 
at  Moore's  Ferry,  but  the  Moore  house  was  deserted. 
Jim  Hill  lived  a  short  distance  below,  and  Ernest  thought 
of  him — wondered  where  he  was.  Good  old  Jim !  And 
Sion,  too,  twenty-five  miles  further  down. 

Nobody  had  joined  them  on  the  road.  All  the  settlers 
and  their  families  appeared  to  be  in  great  alarm,  but 
reported  that  300  volunteers  were  waiting  at  Gonzales. 
Each  morning  at  sunrise  the  general  had  listened  for  the 
signal  guns ;  they  all  had  listened ;  and  they  had  felt  not  a 
tremor,  heard  not  a  boom.  The  horses  proved  to  be  of 
poor  average.  The  general  plainly  was  vexed  at  the  slow 
progress  necessary. 

Here  between  the  Colorado  and  the  Guadalupe  settlers 
were  already  on  the  move,  taking  their  households  out  of 
threatened  danger.  Wagons  and  carts  were  met,  loaded 
with  furniture  and  supplies  and  women  and  children, 
travelling  eastward.  But  no  news  of  the  Alamo  was 
obtained. 

Now  on  the  morning1  of  the  sixth  day  out  of  Wash- 
ington, Gonzales  was  only  twenty  miles  westward,  and  the 

227 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Alamo  was  but  ninety — less  than  that,  in  a  straight  line. 
For  the  last  time,  they  listened  again  at  sunrise.  The 
general  stood,  his  head  bare. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  solemnly  said,  "  the  Alamo  has  fallen. 
We  would  hear  the  cannon,  at  this  point — unless,  of 
course,  Colonel  Travis  is  short  of  ammunition.  Possibly, 
as  we  ride  on,  the  sound  of  the  bombardment  will  reach  us. 
Let  us  hope  so." 

They  had  struck  into  the  main  road  between  Gonzales 
and  the  Colorado,  from  which  other  trails  forked:  the 
road  on  which  Ernest  had  twice  ridden  as  courier — but 
that  seemed  to  him  very  long  ago.  At  the  McClftre  ranch 
on  Peach  Creek,  ten  miles  from  town,  the  general  reined 
in  to  inquire,  of  Mrs.  McClure,  who  looked  out  upon 
them: 

"  What  news  from  the  Alamo,  lady  ?  "  He  always 
addressed  a  woman  as  "  lady." 

She,  too,  was  packed  up,  as  for  flight.  She  recog- 
nized Dick  and  Ernest,  but  did  not  smile. 

"  Not  a  thing  for  several  days.  Even  the  guns  have 
stopped.  We  used  to  hear  them  in  still  weather.  We 
haven't  heard  them  since  Sunday  morning  early.  Do 
you  think  there's  danger,  sir?  Ought  we  to  move  out?  " 

"  My  advice  is  for  the  settlers  to  be  prepared  to  move 
east  of  the  Colorado  on  a  moment's  notice,  lady,"  re- 
sponded the  general.  "With  the  small  army  at  its  dis- 
posal Texas  may  not  be  able  to  hold  the  enemy  back,  and 
this  section  will  be  overrun.  Let  all  supplies  that  cannot 
be  taken  be'destroyed."  And  he  rode  on  with  head  bowed. 

At  the  Berry  ranch,  six  miles  further,  the  same  con- 
versation resulted.  And  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
of  this  March  II  they  entered  Gonzales. 


XVI 

MESSENGERS  OF  DISTRESS 

GONZALES  appeared  to  be  safe,  and  alive  with  people. 
As  the  travel-stained  little  squad  rode  up  broad  East 
Avenue  which  led  into  the  centre  of  the  town,  they  saw, 
along  the  river  bank  below  town,  the  smoke  of  camp  fires 
and  the  glimmer  of  several  tents ;  and  on  before,  toward 
the  main  plaza  and  Market  Square,  many  persons  were 
standing  or  moving  about. 

The  first  house  seemed  to  be  abandoned  in  confusion. 
In  the  window  of  the  next  was  a  woman  who  evidently 
had  been  crying.  From  other  houses  women  with  white 
strained  faces  looked  upon  them  silently,  and  even  the 
men  made  no  sign.  Household  goods  cluttered  the  yards. 
In  the  principal  part  of  town,  at  Market  Square,  and  the 
plaza,  were  many  men — mostly  strangers,  bearing  shot- 
guns and  rifles  and  yagers,  and  clad  in  settler  clothing, 
but  with  here  and  there  a  figure  in  a  blue  uniform  of  short 
blouse  and  straight  trousers.  These  all  were  volunteers. 

There  were  frightened-faced  women,  too.  Some  of 
them  Ernest  knew  well ;  but  he  searched  almost  in  vain 
for  a  familiar  countenance  among  the  men. 

It  seemed  as  though  the  little  party  were  to  dismount 
without  having  been  greeted ;  the  women  said  not  a  word, 
and  the  strange  volunteers  likewise  only  glanced  aside, 
either  carelessly  or  curiously.  But  as  the  general  reined 
his  horse  in,  at  the  plaza,  now  a  scattered  cry  rose,  of 
"  Houston !  Sam  Houston !  Here's  the  general,  boys," 
and  as  Ernest  was  sitting,  halted,  waiting  for  the  general 
or  Dick  to  say  what  next  was  to  be  done,  he  heard  his  own 
name  shouted. 

"  Hurrah !    Ernest  Merrill !    Hello,  there,  pardner !  " 

Jim  Hill  was  running  across  the  plaza,  making  for 
him,  and  waving  his  hat. 

229 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Off  tumbled  Ernest,  and  he  and  Jim  shook  hands  and 
grinned  at  one  another. 

"  Where Ve  you  been,  anyhow  ?  "  demanded  Jim — 
who  carried  his  little  rifle,  and  looked  just  about  as  when 
Ernest  had  last  seen  him,  after  the  capture  of  San  Antonio. 

"  At  the  convention  at  Washington." 

"  All  this  time  ?  Pshaw !  I've  been  here  nigh  a  week. 
Aren't  you  going  to  enlist  ?  " 

"  I  sure  am,"  asserted  Ernest. 

"  Whom  did  you  come  over  with  ?  Houston  ?  We 
need  him,  or  somebody  as  good." 

"  Why,  Jim  ?  How's  the  Alamo  ?  Anybody  heard  ? 
Is  Travis  still  there  ?  Where  are  the  Mexicans  ?  " 

Jim  sobered. 

"  I  don't  know.  Nobody  knows.  We  haven't  heard 
a  shot  since  early  Sunday  morning.  I  got  in  here 
with  the  Bastrop  company  (went  up  there  from  home 
and  enlisted)  on  the  fifth.  The  morning  of  the  fifth, 
at  sunrise,  on  the  march  over,  we  heard  Travis's 
signal  guns;  and  all  that  day  there  was  a  little  can- 
non shooting  yonder  in  the  west.  The  people  here 
at  Gonzales  said  they'd  been  hearing  the  cannonading 
for  more  than  a  week,  especially  when  the  wind  was  right. 
But  before  sun-up  of  Sunday  morning,  the  sixth,  there 
was  a  tremendous  lot  of  firing — you  could  almost  hear  the 
Mexican  muskets  in  big  volleys;  sounded  like  an  awful 
battle,  and  lasted  till  long  after  breakfast.  Then,  about 
an  hour  by  the  sun,  it  died  down,  and  suddenly  it  quit, 
and  we  haven't  heard  a  single  shot  since." 

"  That  was  the  day  we  left  Washington,  right  after 
Captain  Smith  brought  the  message,"  said  Ernest.  "  This 
is  Friday,  isn't  it !  Things  look  bad." 

"Yes,  they  do,"  agreed  Jim,  thoughtfully.  "I  tell 
you,  this  town  is  mighty  blue.  Thirty  of  your  Gonzales 
folks  went  out  with  Smith  and  Captain  Martin  and  broke 
through  to  Travis  before  daylight  of  the  first ;  and  Captain 
Dickinson  and  several  others  are  there,  too.  Of  course, 

230 


MESSENGERS  OF  DISTRESS 

maybe  Travis  and  Bowie  are  holding  out,  and  the  Mexi- 
cans are  just  sitting  round.  But  we  can't  get  a  word ;  the 
scouts  we've  sent  out  don't  dare  go  near.  Say,"  he  added, 
"  your  pony's  here.  Some  of  the  crowd  fetched  him 
and  Dick  Carroll's  horse  back  from  Burnam's." 

"Good,"  exclaimed  Ernest.  He  would  be  glad  to 
have  Duke  again.  "  Where's  Sion  ?  " 

"  I  saw  Sion  about  a  month  ago,  at  San  Felipe.  He'd 
been  putting  in  his  crops  down  home.  But  we'll  meet  up 
with  him,  all  right,  before  this  war's  much  older.  He's 
game.  Haven't  heard  from  Leo  at  all.  He  may  be  with 
Fannin  or  Johnson  in  the  south.  Hope  not.  They're 
liable  to  be  cut  off,  if  Houston  doesn't  hurry.  He's  been 
re-elected  general,  hasn't  he?" 

"  Yes ;  fifty-five  votes  to  one." 

"  That's  good ;  but  I'd  rather  have  had  Ben  Milam. 
Houston  will  do,  though.  We  need  a  military  man,  right 
bad.  Most  of  the  volunteers  in  this  camp  haven't  ever 
drilled ;  we've  got  only  a  few  of  the  old  bunch.  Most  of 
the  veterans  seem  to  have  stayed  at  home  to  move  their 
families.  Everybody's  getting  ready  to  light  out  for  the 
east.  But  Burleson's  here,  and  Neill,  and  Karnes  and 
Deaf  Smith,  and  there's  one  company  of  United  States 
volunteers — the  Newport  Volunteers,  from  Kentucky — 
those  fellows  you  see  in  uniform.  Sidney  Sherman's  their 
captain — that's  he,  the  slim  man  in  a  blue  round-about 
trimmed  with  silver  lace,  with  a  sword  on,  talking  to 
General  Houston.  He's  fine.  We  haven't  guns  enough, 
and  only  two  or  three  wagons,  and  three  cannon.  But 
we've  got  a  flag — a  new  one.  Sort  of  a  cross  between 
the  American  flag  and  the  British  flag,  with  the  red  and 
white  stripes  at  the  end,  and  the  upper  quarter  next  to 
the  pole  the  British  Union  Jack  and  the  lower  quarter  the 
Lone  Star  on  a  green  ground ;  green  instead  of  blue,  for 
Mexico.  Shows  we're  Texans  of  Mexico  from  the  United 
States,  of  English  descent!  Huh!  Some  flag,  that !  The 
motto  says :  '  Our  Country's  Rights  or  Death  ' !  It  be- 

231 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

longs  to  Captain  Moseley  Baker's  company  of  militia  from 
San  Felipe.  The  Newport  Volunteers  brought  a  flag, 
too.  It's  of  heavy  white  silk,  with  the  Goddess  of  Liberty 
in  the  middle  and  a  gold  fringe  round  the  edge.  The 
Newport  ladies  made  it  and  Captain  Sherman's  bride 
presented  it.  She  gave  him  her  glove,  and  told  the  com- 
pany to  carry  it  as  a  battle  charm,  and  they've  got  it 
fastened  to  the  top  of  the  staff." 

Here  Jim  paused  for  lack  of  breath. 

"  Where  are  you  camped,  Jim?  " 

"  Across  the  river,  on  outpost  duty.  Only  two  com- 
panies of  us — the  Bastrop  company  and  the  Newport 
Volunteers.  The  main  crowd  are  camped  on  this  side, 
half  a  mile  below  the  ferry.  Captain  Baker's  in  com- 
mand till  Houston  or  some  other  high  officer  takes  things 
over.  Colonel  Neill  and  General  Burleson  are  helping 
him.  Well,  I'll  see  you  later.  Expect  you  want  to  get 
washed  up  and  fed.  Come  over  to  camp  this  evening." 
He  turned  away,  but  hesitated.  "  You  did  good  work, 
carrying  that  Travis  dispatch,"  he  praised,  generously. 
"  But  you  weren't  the  only  lad  riding  courier.  When  you 
went  on  up  to  Washington  there  was  a  copy  sent  down 
river  to  Columbia,  and  a  fifteen-year-old  by  name  of  Guy 
Bryan  rode  with  it  on  to  Brazoria  and  clear  to  Velasco 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Brazos.  Used  up  one  horse  and  had 
to  find  another." 

"  Bully  for  him,"  answered  Ernest.  "  I  didn't  do  any- 
thing special." 

"  You  did  your  work,  just  the  same,"  asserted  Jim. 
"  Well,  so  long.  See  you  later." 

"  See  you  later,  sure,"  agreed  Ernest.  But  he  did  not 
see  Jim  again  that  evening  or  night. 

Jim  strode  away.  By  this  time  Dick  had  exchanged 
greetings  with  a  number  of  friends.  Everybody  was 
rather  solemn.  A  little  crowd  had  collected  around  the 
general.  He  was  talking  and  listening.  There  was  Deaf 
Smith,  and  Henry  Karnes,  and  General  Ed.  Burleson  in 

232 


MESSENGERS  OF  DISTRESS 

blue  homespun  citizen  clothes  with  a  pair  of  pistols  in  his 
belt,  and  Captain  Sidney  Sherman  (a  nice-looking,  smooth- 
faced young  man)  in  close-buttoned,  short  blue  jacket 
trimmed  with  silver  lace,  at  his  side  a  handsome  sword. 
Conferring  with  them,  General  Houston  occasionally 
nodded  his  large  head. 

"  Let's  go  and  eat,  Ernest,"  bade  Dick.  "  We'll  pick 
up  our  own  horses  on  the  way  and  turn  these  other  critters 
into  the  corral  for  the  public  use.  They'll  be  needed." 

This  was  done.  Duke  appeared  to  be  as  glad  to  see 
Ernest  as  Ernest  was  to  see  him.  During  the  hasty  supper 
of  pork  and  corn-bread  and  coffee  in  the .  house,  Dick 
ventured  his  opinion. 

"  Colonel  Neill  says  there  are  three  hundred  and 
seventy- four  men  here,  part  militia  and  part  just  volun- 
teers unattached,  and  most  of  'em  plumb  ignorant  how  to 
act.  Houston'll  have  to  whip  'em  into  some  sort  of 
military  shape.  We've  got  plenty  food  in  Gonzales,  but 
it  won't  last  long,  and  we  need  guns  and  ammunition  and 
wagons  and  clothing  and  all  that.  The  people  living  here 
are  panicky ;  some  have  left  already  for  the  east  and  the 
rest  are  packing  up.  Nobody  knows  what's  happening 
at  the  Alamo.  Karnes  and  Deaf  Smith  think  Travis  has 
been  wiped  out;  Burleson  thinks  not.  What  we  can  do 
with  this  mob  ag'in  a  big  Mexican  army  is  a  problem. 
Fannin's  got  a  force  of  four  hundred  down  at  Goliad; 
mainly  United  States  men  and  well  outfitted.  If  he  can 
join  us  on  the  Cibolo,  maybe  we  can  go  through.  But — — ." 

"  Listen,  Dick !  "  interrupted  Ernest. 

Dusk  had  fallen,  and  through  it  suddenly  sounded 
hurrying  feet,  shouts,  and  the  shrill  cries  of  women  and 
children. 

"  News  from  the  west !  "  uttered  Dick.  "  Bad  news, 
too.  The  Mexicans  must  be  coming !  "  He  sprang  up ; 
his  stool  went  spinning.  He  seized  gun  and  pistols  and 
followed  by  Ernest  bolted  out. 

The  clamor  had  swelled.  In  the  dimness  men  and 
233 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

women  were  running;  doors  slammed;  voices  called 
wildly. 

"  The  Alamo's  gone — every  man  massacred,  and  Santa 
Anna's  on  his  way !  "  was  the  quick,  panting  reply  to 
Dick's  query  of  a  figure  passing  in  headlong  haste. 

In  the  plaza  a  crowd  of  citizens  and  soldiers  had  col- 
lected. Two  Mexicans  of  Bejar  had  arrived,  was  the 
story  on  many  lips :  Anselmo  Bogarro  and  a  companion, 
they  were.  They  had  said  that  the  Alamo  had  been  cap- 
tured last  Sunday  morning,  and  not  a  man  in  it  had  been 
left  alive !  Two  thousand  soldiers  were  on  their  way  to 
attack  the  settlements. 

The  two  Mexicans  were  being  examined  by  General 
Houston,  at  his  quarters.  Reports  continued.  Perhaps 
the  two  Mexicans  had  lied.  They  had  now  been  arrested 
as  spies.  The  general  issued  a  proclamation  stating  that 
he  believed  the  story  to  be  false ;  and  the  people  gradually 
dispersed.  But  all  night  the  town  was  awake,  while 
families  packed  their  goods,  and  the  women  and  children 
wept  as  they  worked.  The  troops  were  kept  under  arms, 
and  out-posts  were  stationed  a  mile  to  the  west. 

Through  the  uneasy,  fear-smitten  night  Ernest  man- 
aged to  catch  a  little  sleep,  in  his  own  bed  once  more. 
The  morning  dawned  amidst  confusion.  General  Houston 
(who,  rumor  declared,  had  not  slept  at  all)  ordered  the 
troops  across  the  river  to  be  changed  to  the  east  side; 
and  there  was  a  parade  of  all  the  troops  and  an  election 
of  regimental  officers.  General  Ed.  Burleson  was  elected 
colonel,  Captain  Sidney  Sherman  was  elected  lieutenant 
colonel,  and  Alex.  Somervell  was  elected  major.  The 
general  made  a  stirring  address,  assuring  the  army  that 
if  they  would  keep  cool  there  would  be  no  danger.  The 
camp  was  moved  up-river  a  short  distance,  to  a  better 
spot  on  the  prairie,  and  was  reformed  in  two  long  lines 
of  tents  and  bed  rolls,  surmounted  by  the  flag  of  the  San 
Felipe  militia  and  of  the  Newport  Volunteers.  Most  of 
the  men  preferred  the  Kentucky  flag  and  Mrs.  Sherman's 

234 


MESSENGERS  OF  DISTRESS 

glove.  The  other  flag  was  too  complicated — had  too 
much  in  it;  and  what  was  the  use  in  mixing  the  British 
Union  Jack  with  the  American  stripes? 

Evidently  General  Houston  was  not  so  certain  that 
the  two  Mexicans'  report  was  false,  for  he  had  sent  off 
a  dispatch  to  Colonel  Fannin  to  destroy  the  fortifications 
at  Goliad,  to  bring  off  the  settlers,  and  to  retire  northeast 
to  Victoria  on  the  Guadalupe  instead  of  marching  toward 
Be  jar.  The  dispatch,  it  was  thought,  would  reach  Colonel 
Fannin  within  thirty  hours  at  the  most,  and  catch  him 
before  he  had  gone  far. 

The  day  passed  uneventfully,  except  for  the  fears  of 
the  Gonzales  people.  As  for  Ernest,  he  and  Dick  enlisted 
in  Robert  Calder's  company,  which  was  composed  partly 
of  men  from  along  the  Guadalupe.  Dick's  horse  was  in 
poor  shape,  so  he  joined  afoot.  The  regiment  were 
almost  all  infantry,  anyway.  But  Ernest  clung  to  Duke. 
He  and  Jim  agreed  that  they'd  hold  out  for  a  cavalry 
assignment. 

The  two  Mexicans  were  closely  guarded,  and  no  one 
was  permitted  to  speak  with  them.  Nothing  more  was 
heard  from  the  Alamo.  That  was  queer.  After  break- 
fast the  next  morning,  which  was  March  13,  it  was 
rumored  that  the  general  had  ordered  Henry  Karnes, 
Deaf  Smith  and  Richard  Handy,  another  scout,  to  ride 
toward  Be  jar  and  find  exactly  how  things  stood.  They 
were  to  be  back  with  their  news  within  three  days. 

A  few  additional  volunteers  arrived,  the  majority 
afoot,  until  by  night  the  374  had  increased  to  400.  Now 
all  were  waiting  for  the  report  of  the  scouts. 

That  same  night,  about  half -past  eight  o'clock,  Henry 
Karnes  returned  alone.  The  camp  had  finished  supper, 
and  the  men  were  sitting  around  visiting,  when  he  rode 
rapidly  in.  As  he  loped  past  where  Jim  and  Ernest  were 
confabbing  together,  somebody  called  to  him,  sharply : 

"What's  the  news,  Henry?" 

"The  wust"  answered  Henry,  without  stopping. 
235 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  All  gone  under ;  wiped  out  complete."  And  he  con- 
tinued straight  for  General  Houston's  headquarters  tent. 
He  had  been  riding  hard. 

Ernest  and  Jim  stared  at  one  another. 

"  That  was  true,  then,"  faltered  Jim. 

Ernest  nodded.  He  could  not  speak.  The  picture 
was  too  horrible.  Think  of  it — a  hundred  and  eighty 
men,  brave  men,  half  of  whom  he  knew,  and  had  fought 
beside,  killed — probably  slaughtered ! 

"  Come  on,"  bade  Jim.  "  We'll  go  where  we  can 
hear." 

Weak  in  his  knees,  his  feet  leaden,  Ernest  kept  up 
with  him.  So  swiftly  had  spread  the  tidings  that  almost 
instantly  the  camp  was  in  a  buzz;  some  of  the  men 
remained  sitting,  as  if  stunned;  others  sprang  to  their 
feet,  and  made,  like  Jim  and  Ernest,  for  headquarters, 
to  stand  before  the  tent  flaps,  murmurous  and  waiting. 

Henry  Karnes  was  talking  inside.  Colonel  Burleson 
hastily  entered.  Colonel  Hockley,  the  chief  of  staff,  was 
there.  Presently  Henry  Karnes  emerged,  pale  through 
his  freckled  tan.  Now  it  was  no  use  to  conceal  matters, 
and  he  spoke  freely,  his  voice  shaking. 

He  and  Deaf  Smith  and  Richard  Handy  had  ridden 
only  twenty  miles  out  of  Gonzales  (cautiously,  on  the 
watch  for  danger)  when  they  had  sighted  a  little  party 
coming  toward  them  on  the  road — a  woman  on  a  horse 
and  two  men  afoot.  It  was  Mrs.  Dickinson,  carrying 
her  baby,  and  accompanied  by  Colonel  Travis's  negro 
boy,  Sam,  and  Ben,  another  negro  who  had  escaped  from 
Colonel  Almonte  of  the  Mexican  army. 

Mrs.  Dickinson  said  that  she  and  her  baby,  and  Sam, 
and  a  Mexican  sister-in-law  of  Colonel  Bowie  with  her 
little  sister,  and  another  Mexican  woman,  were  the  only 
persons  left  alive  who  had  been  in  the  Alamo.  General 
Santa  Anna  had  sent  her  with  a  proclamation  from  him 
to  tell  Texas  that  the  Alamo  had  fallen,  and  that  now 
if  Texas  would  submit  and  lay  down  its  arms  he  would 

236 


MESSENGERS  OF  DISTRESS 

pardon  its  rebels.     If  not !     But  imagine  a  pardon 

from  Santa  Anna! 

The  last  attack  on  the  Alamo  had  begun  before  day- 
light on  last  Sunday  morning — just  as  had  been  suspected 
by  Jim  and  the  others  who  had  listened  from  Gonzales. 
Two  thousand  five  hundred  soldiers  had  attacked  on  four 
sides  at  once,  with  cannon  and  scaling  ladders.  The 
Mexican  bands  had  played  the  tune  of  Cut-Throat — no 
quarter!  The  attacks  on  three  of  the  sides  failed;  and 
the  attack  on  the  fourth  side,  by  all  the  soldiers  together, 
had  been  driven  back  three  times !  But  the  soldiers  were 
so  many  that  the  Alamo  men  could  not  shoot  fast  enough 
to  keep  them  down.  They  had  planted  their  ladders  and 
had  simply  poured  over  the  wall.  Then  there  was  ter- 
rible hand-to-hand  fighting,  through  the  buildings. 
Knives,  pistols,  and  butts  of  guns!  Captain  Dickinson 
(who  had  been  a  lieutenant  in  charge  of  a  cannon)  had 
rushed  into  Mrs.  Dickinson's  room  in  the  Alamo  church, 
and  saying:  "All  is  lost.  If  they  spare  you,  save  my 
child,"  had  rushed  out,  and  she  never  saw  him  again.  But 
he  was  killed.  Colonel  Travis  was  killed.  Colonel 
Bowie  was  shot  in  his  bed — the  Mexican  soldiers  had 
been  afraid  to  bayonet  him.  Davy  Crockett  had  used  his 
rifle  as  a  club  until  he,  too,  fell.  Colonel  Bonham  was 
dead.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Walters  had  been  driven 
right  into  Mrs.  Dickinson's  room  and  there  before  her 
eyes  had  been  tossed  on  bayonets  by  half  a  dozen  Mexicans 
at  once.  Only  five  of  the  men  survived  the  fight — and 
they  had  immediately  been  shot  by  orders  of  Santa  Anna 
himself.  After  that  General  Santa  Anna  had  all  the 
Texan  bodies  collected  in  a  pile  and  heaped  with  brush 
and  burned.  Now  General  Sesma  was  on  his  way  with 
2000  soldiers  to  seize  Gonzales ;  and  the  remainder  of  the 
army  would  follow. 

Henry  Karnes  explained  that  he  had  galloped  ahead, 
and  "had  left  Mrs.  Dickinson's  party  to  come  on  with  the 
help  of  Deaf  Smith  and  Richard  Handy. 

237 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Look!  Listen!  To  Gonzales  town  also  the  dreadful 
word  had  travelled.  Lights  were  gleaming  in  the  houses 
and  on  the  streets ;  shrieks  and  screams  and  hoarse  shouts 
cut  through  the  damp  night  air:  cries  of  fear  and  rage 
and  grief — grief  for  nearly  200  Texans  pent  up  and 
slaughtered,  and  especially  for  the  thirty-one  of  the 
thirty-two  Gonzales  citizens  who  two  weeks  before  had 
ridden  away  to  help  Travis  in  the  Alamo,  and  would 
never  return.  Bluff  Captain  Albert  Martin,  who  had 
gone  back  with  his  comrades;  middle-aged  Jacob  Darst, 
Claib  Wright,  George  Cottle,  George  Tumlinson,  Jesse 
McCoy,  Galb  Fuqua,  and  the  rest;  and  young  Captain 
Dickinson — gone,  leaving  wives  and  children  and 
brothers  and  sisters.  Travis,  Jim  Bowie,  James  Bonham 
—Davy  Crockett! 

What  a  loss  Texas  had  suffered ! 

The  camp  was  in  an  uproar  of  excitement  and  uncer- 
tainty. The  Mexicans  under  General  Sesma  were 
rumored  to  be  already  at  the  Cibolo,  halfway  for  Gonzales ! 
Horses  thudded  away  into  the  darkness,  bearing  volun- 
teers on  the  home  trail  to  protect  their  families.  But 
from  his  headquarters  General  Houston  was  acting — 
and  no  time  was  to  be  lost.  Officers  who  had  been  sum- 
moned ran  hither-thither,  shouting  orders. 

"  Companies  fall  in !    This  way,  men !  " 

Ernest  and  Jim  separated,  to  tend  to  business.  Every- 
man was  to  pack  for  a  march,  taking  only  what  he  could 
carry.  Don't  delay  for  stray  horses.  Hook  up  those 
teams !  Burn  the  extra  baggage  and  supplies. 

Great  bonfires  began  to  crackle  and  leap,  as  down  came 
the  tents,  and  armful  after  armful  of  canvas  and  clothing 
and  bacon  and  flour  and  coffee  were  dumped  upon  the 
blaze.  Figures  half  in  ruddy  light  and  half  in  gloom 
bustled  to  and  fro.  The  wailing  in  the  town  never 
ceased.  General  Houston's  tent  still  stood,  as  a  centre, 
and  from  it  rang  his  voice,  imperative,  through  all  the 
tumult 

238 


MESSENGERS  OF  DISTRESS 

"  No,  sir !  Wait !  Don't  be  in  haste.  Wait  till  all 
are  ready,  and  let  us  retreat  in  good  order." 

"  Somebody's  getting  in  too  big  a  hurry  and  the 
general's  calling  him  down,"  remarked  a  man  near  Ernest. 

So  retreat  it  was  to  be!  But  nobody  objected.  Four 
hundred  undrilled  men,  no  matter  how  brave,  could  not 
hold  the  frontier,  here  in  the  open,  against  an  army  of 
several  thousand  regulars  with  cannon  and  cavalry. 

About  eleven  o'clock  the  companies  all  were  packed 
and  in  line.  The  general  had  sent  word  advising  the 
^Gonzales  people  to  move  out,  and  had  given  them  two 
army  wagons.  A  number  of  the  horses  at  the  camp  had 
not  been  caught  yet.  But  Ernest  had  made  certain  of 
Duke,  and  he  rather  guessed  that  Jim  was  in  the  saddle, 
too.  Trust  Jim  for  that ! 

The  general's  tent  had  vanished.  How  the  bonfires 
flamed !  "  Forward,  march !  "  sounded  the  orders ;  and 
in  a  weaving  column  four  abreast  the  little  army  headed 
from  the  blaze-lighted  camp.  There  were  six  companies 
of  infantry,  with  fifty  or  sixty  men  in  a  company,  forming 
the  centre ;  the  sixty  horsemen  rode  on  either  flank ;  the 
three  cannon — one  iron  nine-pounder  and  two  four- 
pounders — had  been  thrown  into  the  river,  for  they  could 
not  be  taken.  One  baggage-wagon,  hauled  by  four  oxen, 
brought  up  the  rear. 

The  general  and  his  staff — Colonel  Hockley,  Colonel 
Burleson,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Sherman  and  Major 
Somervell — led,  on  their  horses.  A  detachment  under 
Captain  Handy  and  Captain  John  Sharp  formed  a  rear 
guard.  The  march  to  the  main  road  for  the  east  passed 
through  Gonzales.  The  houses  all  were  lighted,  and 
inside  and  in  the  yards  the  men  and  women  were  toiling 
desperately,  packing  their  valuables  and  bedding,  for 
flight.  The  two  wagons,  piled  high,  and  with  women 
and  children  atop  the  loads,  joined  the  march  for  protec- 
tion ;  so  did  a  number  of  other  outfits — on  horses,  oxen, 
or  afoot,  mothers  carrying  the  smallest  children,  fathers, 

239 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

who  had  left  the  ranks,  carrying  others — whole  families 
trudging  and  sobbing1,  but  the  men  grim.  Mrs.  Dickinson 
was  said  to  be  somewhere  in  the  procession. 

General  Houston's  voice  could  be  heard,  exhorting. 

"  None  must  be  left  behind,"  he  was  saying.  "  Go  tc 
the  interior.  Keep  ahead  of  the  army.  That's  the  only 
safe  way." 

"  Before  morning  there  won't  be  a  soul  in  Gonzales," 
spoke  a  rider  near  Ernest.  "  This  is  war,  all  right." 

Ernest  could  not  see  the  speaker ;  the  march  had  pro- 
ceeded into  darkness,  and  Gonzales  and  its  lights,  shining 
for  the  last  time  from  those  homely  casements,  were 
behind. 

"  Yes,"  responded  another  voice.  "  And  by  the  time 
those  fellows  who've  skipped  out  have  spread  the  news, 
all  West  Texas  will  be  on  the  move." 

"  When  we  join  Fannin,  I  reckon  we'll  do  something." 

"  We'll  try  hard." 

The  enshrouded  road  became  sandy,  making  bad  going 
for  the  people  afoot.  Children  whimpered,  women 
panted,  and  f"Ten  the  volunteers  trudged  more  and  more 
slowly.  The  air  was  warm  and  lifeless. 

On  a  sudden,  after  the  march  had  continued  for  two 
hours,  along  the  straggling  column  welled  a  cry,  passing 
on  lip  to  lip  from  rear  to  front.  Ernest  quickly  turned 
his  head.  He  had  been  half  asleep.  The  western  horizon 
was  redly  aglow. 

"  Gonzales !     It's  a  fire !  " 

"  They're  burning  the  town !  " 

"Who's  doing  that?" 

"  Did  the  rear  guard  have  those  orders  ?  " 

"  There  goes  the  only  bit  of  property  I  have  in  the 
world." 

"Well,  let  the  Mexicans  come  now.  They'll  find 
nothing." 

Ernest  gazed  dumbly.  Higher  mounted  the  glow,  as 
fiercer  waxed  the  flames.  There  went  his  and  Dick's 

240 


MESSENGERS  OF  DISTRESS 

little  home,  then ;  all  the  buildings  were  of  thin  oak  siding 
— they'd  burn  furiously.  Ho-hum!  That  was  pretty 
tough.  What  were  the  people  to  do,  if  they  ever  went 
back? 

False  dawn,  which  precedes  real  dawn  by  an  hour, 
was  in  the  air,  and  sleepy  birds  were  twittering,  when 
the  exhausted  column  struggled  across  Peach  Creek,  at 
the  abandoned  McClure  ranch,  and  welcome  orders  were 
given  for  the  soldiers  to  rest  on  their  arms.  But  many 
of  the  refugees  from  Gonzales  pressed  right  on. 

No  fires  were  made.  Some  of  the  footmen  simply 
fell  upon  their  knapsacks  and  lay  there.  Ernest  loosened 
Duke's  cinches  and  tethered  him  out;  and  was  spreading 
his  blanket  when  Jim  found  him. 

"  I've  been  looking  for  you/'  said  Jim.  "  There 
doesn't  seem  to  be  much  order,  anyhow.  I  reckon  we'll 
just  spread  our  blankets  together  after  this  till  the  cavalry's 
formed.  I'll  ride  with  you  to-morrow." 

"  Good,"  replied  Ernest,  briefly. 

In  silence  they  rolled  up,  side  by  side,  in  their  blankets. 
Jim  spoke: 

"Pretty  tough,  isn't  it!" 

"  That's  right,"  agreed  Ernest. 

The  fire  was  brighter,  and  the  refugees  continued  to 
pass. 


XVII 

RETREAT,  AND  EVER  RETREAT 

IT  seemed  to  Ernest  that  he  scarcely  had  closed  his 
eyes,  at  last,  when  he  was  forced  to  unclose  them.  Men 
were  passing  among  the  prone  figures,  waking  them. 
Dawn  had  broken  grayly,  under  a  clouded  sky.  Fires 
were  being  kindled;  and  the  wearied  refugees  scattered 
through  the  oak  grove  were  arousing — the  women  to  get 
the  breakfasts.  In  the  west  hung  the  smoke  from  the 
burning  town. 

"  Well,"  yawned  Jim,  pulling  on  his  boots,  "  here  we 
are,  with  all  Texas  before  us." 

"  Wonder  where  we  go  to-day,"  invited  Ernest. 

"  Keep  right  on  till  we  reach  the  Colorado,  I  reckon," 
answered  Jim.  "  That's  the  tell.  We'll  join  with 
Fannin  somewhere  on  the  Colorado  and  hold  the  Mexicans 
there  till  we  lick  'em." 

Coffee  was  being  made — and  it  tasted  very  good, 
although  there  was  no  sugar  for  it.  From  the  direction  of 
Gonzales  sounded  several  heavy  explosions,  rumbling 
through  the  damp  air.  Mexican  cannon?  If  so,  then 
Henry  Karnes  and  Deaf  Smith  and  the  other  scouts  would 
best  light  out  of  there  in  a  hurry.  No — as  like  as  not  the 
explosions  were  from  some  powder  that  had  been  forgot- 
ten, or  from  barrels  of  brandy.  Rumor  said  that  the 
brandy  had  been  poisoned,  for  the  Mexicans,  and  that 
General  Houston  was  angry,  when  he  heard. 

Now  General  Houston  was  walking  among  the 
refugees  (who  had  been  alarmed  by  the  explosions)  and 
telling  them,  in  a  loud,  confident  voice,  that  to  poison  the 
liquor  had  been  the  act  of  savages,  and  that  it  had  now 
been  safely  disposed  of. 

Orders  were  issued  to  fall  in.  The  footmen  stiffly 
obeyed ;  most  of  them  were  not  used  to  walking,  but  the 

242 


RETREAT,  AND  EVER  RETREAT 

general  (so  'twas  said)  thought  that  he  could  hold  the 
army  together  better  if  they  were  afoot.  Ernest  saw 
Dick  limping  to  his  place.  He  and  Jim,  however,  saddled 
up  and  in  partnership  rode  with  the  flanking  cavalry. 

After  the  first  halt,  to  rest  a  moment,  the  general  came 
slowly  ambling  back  along  the  column.  He  wore  an  old, 
thread-bare,  closely  buttoned  black  coat,  similar  to  a 
Prince  Albert  of  to-day — a  dress-coat,  as  it  was  called. 
Probably  he  had  given  his  buckskin  coat  to  some  refugee. 
He  appeared  to  be  counting  the  men  with  his  finger.  He 
looked  tired  out,  and  constantly  sniffed  at  a  little  bottle  of 
ammonia  salts,  to  ward  off  malaria.  He  made  rather  an 
odd  figure,  in  his  big  hat,  and  long  black  coat,  with  his 
bottle  and  his  pointing  finger. 

"  We  are  the  rise  of  eight  hundred  strong,"  he  an- 
nounced, as  if  to  himself,  but  in  a  loud  voice  so  that  all 
might  hear ;  "  and  with  a  good  position  we  can  whip  ten 
to  one  of  the  enemy."  And  he  returned. 

"  Shucks !  "  remarked  Jim.  "  That's  tall  talk.  We 
aren't  more  than  four  hundred  and  fifty.  He's  saying 
that  to  encourage  us." 

"  Every  little  helps,"  asserted  Ernest. 

"  He's  got  a  load  to  carry,  that  man,"  vouchsafed  Jim. 
"  We  Texans  aren't  used  to  retreating,  and  look  at  us !  " 

Truly,  the  sight  was  not  inspiring :  the  toiling,  perspir- 
ing column,  and  the  distressed,  panicky  citizens,  all  fleeing 
from  the  advancing  host  of  the  Mexican  army  flushed 
with  victory. 

That  evening  camp  was  made  at  the  Lavaca  River,  near 
the  ranch  of  Captain  Daniels.  The  ranch  was  deserted, 
like  the  rest  of  the  country.  The  general  had  no  tent  and 
all  his  baggage  was  a  blanket  and  a  pair  of  saddle-bags 
containing  his  papers.  To-night  his  headquarters  were 
an  out-building  of  the  ranch;  and  at  dusk  he  could  be 
seen  through  the  open  door,  seated  on  a  three-legged  stool, 
and  whittling  splinters  with  which  to  feed  a  little  fire  in 
the  fire-place,  for  light,  while  he  dictated  some  orders  to 

243 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Colonel  Hockley,  his  chief  aide.  Soon  after  supper  Major 
William  T.  Austin  rode  away — with  dispatches  to  the 
lower  Brazos,  southeast,  it  was  said.  The  general  had 
sent  word  to  Colonel  John  A.  Wharton  to  hurry  up  cannon, 
mules  and  ammunition. 

In  the  morning  word  was  passed  that  Colonel  Fannin 
was  still  at  Goliad,  and  might  not  be  able  to  retire.  General 
Houston  was  heard  to  say  to  Colonel  Hockley: 

"  Hockley,  here  is  the  last  hope  of  Texas.  We  shall 
never  see  Fannin  or  his  men.  With  these  soldiers  we 
must  achieve  our  independence,  or  perish  in  the  attempt/* 

Nevertheless,  about  ten  o'clock  the  whole  column  was 
suddenly  halted,  and  a  large  squad  of  horsemen  went 
galloping  on  the  back  trail. 

"  Where  you  going,  boys  ?  " 

"  To  get  a  blind  widow  and  seven  children,  bedad !  " 
yelled  one  of  the  riders — Irish,  by  his  accent.  "  The 
gin'ral  won't  be  happy  till  he  has  'em." 

So  the  march  was  delayed  until  the  squad  returned 
with  the  family,  who  lived  off  the  road  and  had  not  been 
told  of  the  retreat.  The  "  Deaf  Smith  Spies,"  as  the 
Henry  Karnes  scouts  were  termed,  came  in  also,  from 
Gonzales.  They  reported  that  when  they  had  left,  no 
Mexican  army  was  yet  in  sight. 

About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  March  17,  which 
was  the  fourth  day  out  of  Gonzales,  camp  was  made,  in  the 
rain,  at  Burnam's  Crossing  on  the  Colorado.  During  the 
march  from  Gonzales  the  general  had  been  energy  itself. 
Nothing  escaped  his  attention.  He  was  everywhere  at 
once,  from  front  to  rear,  encouraging  the  refugees,  and 
scolding  the  volunteers  when  they  lagged.  His  strong 
point  was  discipline.  John  Rhodes  had  been  found  asleep 
on  sentry  duty,  and  General  Houston  put  him  under  arrest 
and  vowed  he  should  be  shot. 

The  next  day,  on  the  march,  while  crossing  a  creek, 
John  stopped,  knee-deep,  to  get  a  drink.  All  the  column 
behind  him  also  stopped,  obligingly,  to  wait  for  him. 

244 


RETREAT,  AND  EVER  RETREAT 

Back  galloped  the  general,  like  a  whirlwind. 
"  What  are  you  doing  here ?    Why  are  you  halting?  " 
"  John  Rhodes  wants  a  drink,  general." 
"  Knock  him  down !  "  bawled  the  general,  pretending 
a  terrible  rage.     "  Knock  him  down !    Standing  there  and 
impeding  the  march  of  a  whole  army !     Knock  him  down, 
I  say ! "     And  he  almost  rode  right  over  Rhodes,  who 
was  so  frightened  that  he  did  not  take  another  swallow. 

However,  that  evening  the  general  called  John,  and 
told  him  that  he  would  not  be  shot,  after  all.  And  when 
the  widow  and  her  family  were  to  be  rescued,  he  had 
halted  the  march  himself  and  delayed  it  two  hours ! 

From  Burnam's  the  general  sent  a  dispatch  to  the 
government  Military  Committee,  at  Washington  on  the 
Brazos.  He  dictated,  from  his  quarters,  in  such  a  loud 
voice,  as  if  he  were  making  a  speech,  that  anybody  near  at 
hand  could  hear. 

It  pains  me  to  the  heart  [he  said]  that  such  conster- 
nation should  be  spread  by  a  few  deserters  from  the  camp, 
but  we  are  here,  and  if  only  three  hundred  men  remain 
on  this  side  of  the  Brazos,  I  will  die  with  them  or  con- 
quer our  enemies.  Our  own  people,  if  they  would  act, 
are  enough  to  expel  every  Mexican  from  Texas.  Do 
let  it  be  known  that,  on  close  examination,  and  upon 
reflection,  the  force  of  Santa  Anna  has  been  greatly  over- 
rated. If  you  can,  by  any  means,  soothe  the  people,  and 
get  them  to  remain,  they  shall  have  notice,  if  I  deem  it 
necessary.  Let  them  entertain  no  fears  for  the  present. 
We  can  raise  three  thousand  men  in  Texas,  and  fifteen 
hundred  can  defeat  all  that  Santa  Anna  can  send  to  the 
Colorado. 

Send  agents  to  the  United  States  [he  said].  Appeal 
to  them  in  the  holy  names  of  Liberty  and  Humanity. 
Let  the  men  from  the  east  of  the  Trinity  rush  to  us. 
Let  all  the  disposable  force  of  Texas  fly  to  arms. 

"The  general's  certainly  working  hard,"  quoth  Jim, 
as  he  and  Ernest  held  a  little  council  of  war  of  their  own. 
"  But  those  fellows  who  skipped  out  ahead  of  the  army 

245 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

when  they  heard  about  the  Alarno  are  making  him  a  heap 
of  trouble.  They've  spread  all  kinds  of  stories.  Shucks, 
we're  not  getting  any  at  all  from  east  Texas.  Not  more'n 
a  hundred  and  fifty  men  have  met  us  since  we  left 
Gonzales — and  part  of  them  vamoosed  (by  which  Jim 
meant  "  skipped  ")  again." 

"  Those  last  settlers  we  took  up  say  it's  reported  Santa 
Anna's  bringing  a  lot  of  women  along  with  his  soldiers, 
and  they're  to  marry  and  settle  on  the  American  ranches, 
and  all  Americans  are  to  be  driven  out,'*  said  Ernest. 

"  If  Fannin  only  gets  away,  we  can  hold  the  Mexicans 
at  the  Colorado,"  spoke  Jim,  confidently.  "  We  lost  one 
gun  to-day.  Did  you  hear?  " 

"No.     What?" 

"  Musket.  A  sentry  busted  it  over  the  head  of  a 
fellow  by  name  of  Garner,  who  was  bound  to  cross  the 
line,  whether  or  no.  He  didn't  cross.  Reckon  the 
general'll  give  that  sentry  a  medal.  This  army  needs  con- 
siderable disciplining." 

"Well,  it's  got  some  discipline,"  argued  Ernest.  "  The 
general  tried  to  cross  the  sentry  line  himself,  and  the 
sentinel  made  him  sit  on  a  stump  and  wait  for  a  written 
order  from  the  officer  of  the  day." 

"That  tickled  the  general,  I  bet,"  chuckled  Jim. 
"  What's  sauce  for  the  goose  is  sauce  for  the  gander." 

Two  days  were  spent  in  the  mud,  crossing  the  Colorado. 
All  the  refugees  were  ferried  over  first,  so  as  to  be  ahead 
of  the  column.  One  woman  was  found  by  the  general 
sitting  on  a  log,  refusing  to  move.  She  was  hopeless  and 
crying.  Her  husband  had  been  killed  with  Travis  in  the 
Alamo,  and  her  things  had  been  burned  in  Gonzales.  The 
general  gave  her  fifty  dollars  out  of  his  $200,  and  told 
her  that  she  need  never  pay  him  back. 

Wet  and  mudded,  down  the  east  bank  of  the  Colorado 
the  little  army  marched  until  opposite  Beason's  place, 
twelve  miles  below.  This  was  Beason's  Crossing.  Sion 
lived  here,  across  the  river,  near  the  new  town  of  Colum- 

246 


RETREAT,  AND  EVER  RETREAT 

bus.     And  that  very  evening  he  appeared  in  camp,  with 
some  recruits. 

Jim  saw  him  first,  and  let  out  a  wild  whoop  of  joy. 

"What  do  you  think  you're  going  to  do?"  he  de- 
manded of  Sion — he  and  Ernest  pumping  Sion's  hand. 
"  Still  got  that  old  pea-shooter,  haven't  you!  "  For  Sion 
was  equipped  for  war. 

"  Going  to  do?  Fight,  of  course!  "  retorted  Sion,  as 
pugnacious  as  ever.  "What  are  you  fellows  going  to 
do  ?  Keep  on  running  away  ?  " 

"  No.  As  soon  as  we  meet  up  with  Fannin  or  get 
those  cannon  from  the  mouth  of  the  Brazos  we'll  capture 
Santa  Anna  and  go  back  to  ploughing.  We're  here  to 
stick.  We're  stuck  already,  in  the  mud !  " 

"  Have  you  enlisted,  Sion  ?  "  queried  Ernest. 

"  Sure.  I've  just  been  waiting  till  you  came  down. 
I'm  in  Captain  Moseley  Baker's  San  Felipe  company,  and 
I'm  here  to  stick,  too.  He's  a  fighter.  We  fellows  reckon 
Sam  Houston's  gone  about  far  enough." 

"  Any  news  from  Leo  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Any  news  from  Fannin?  " 

"  No.  But  the  convention's  quit.  Elected  David 
Burnet  president  of  the  Republic  of  Texas  and  Lorenzo  de 
Zavala  [that  was  the  Mexican  patriot]  vice-president; 
and  on  the  seventeenth,  as  soon  as  they  heard  about  the 
Alamo,  they  all  moved  out,  down  to  Harrisburg,  near 
Buffalo  Bayou,  in  the  Galveston  Bay  country  of  the  coast. 
Wasn't  that  awful,  about  the  Alamo,  though  ?  " 

"  It  certainly  was,"  agreed  Jim  and  Ernest,  sobering. 

"  All  Texas  acts  scared  out  of  its  boots,"  complained 
Sion.  "  The  government's  as  bad  as  the  rest — retreating 
like  that.  If  half  the  men  who  are  tending  to  their  fami- 
lies would  join  the  army  their  families  would  be  a  great 
deal  safer.  We've  got  to  do  something  pretty  quick.  The 
Mexicans  are  close." 

*  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

247 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  Because  some  of  their  patrols  are  right  west  of  here. 
People  saw  'em  yesterday.  Old  Sesma's  behind  'em  with 
six  hundred  men." 

That  was  true.  The  scouts  under  Henry  Karnes,  who 
had  been  stationed  across  the  river,  above,  brought  in  a 
Mexican  soldier  and  three  horses,  and  Scout  Secrest 
showed  the  sword  and  pistols  of  another  soldier  whom  he 
had  killed.  Three  more  prisoners  were  captured,  by  a 
detachment  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Sherman.  They 
said  that  General  Sesma  and  General  Woll  were  now  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  Colorado,  only  three  miles  above 
Beason's.  The  Deaf  Smith  Spies,  on  falling  back  from 
Burnam's,  had  set  fire  to  the  ranch  buildings  and  to  the 
Dewees  place,  below. 

General  Houston  posted  strong  guards  up  along  the 
river;  and  according  to  reports  there  would  be  a  battle. 
If  Generals  Sesma  and  Woll  had  only  600  men,  the  Texan 
army  ought  to  be  able  to  thresh  them.  Sherman,  it  was 
said,  would  have  ambushed  them — only  that  one  of  his 
men  disobeyed  orders  and  fired  too  soon,  and  spoiled  the 
whole  plan.  If  the  artillery  only  would  come  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Brazos!  The  little  army  were  in  great 
excitement — although  some  of  the  men  managed  to  leave, 
in  spite  of  the  sentries.  They  reasoned  that  if  there  was 
a  fight  and  the  army  was  whipped  by  the  Mexican  artillery 
and  cavalry,  they  ought  to  be  at  home  with  their  families. 

General  Houston  looked  ill.  He  was  carrying  a  great 
load.  The  news  that  the  government  had  fled  also,  as  if  it 
did  not  trust  him  or  the  army,  worried  him.  He  said  to 
one  of  the  officers :  "  That  removal  from  Washington  to 
Harrisburg  has  done  more  to  increase  the  panic  than  any- 
thing else  that  has  occurred  in  Texas,  except  the  fall  of 
the  Alamo,  sir."  And  from  Beason's  he  wrote  to  Colonel 
Rusk,  the  secretary  of  war : 

You  know  I  am  not  easily  depressed,  but  since  we 
parted  at  the  convention  I  have  found  the  darkest  hours 
of  n^r  past  life !  My  excitement  has  been  so  great  that 

248 


RETREAT,  AND  EVER  RETREAT 

for  forty-eight  hours  I  have  not  eaten  an  ounce,  nor  have 
I  slept.  I  was  in  a  constant  apprehension  of  a  rout; 
a  constant  panic  existed  in  the  lines,  yet  I  managed  so 
well,  or  such  was  my  good  luck,  that  not  a  gun  was  fired 
in  or  near  the  camp,  or  on  the  march  (except  to  kill 
beef)  from  the  Guadalupe  to  the  Colorado. 

It  was  a  poor  compliment  to  me  [he  said]  to  suppose 
that  I  would  not  advise  the  convention  of  any  necessity 
which  might  arise  for  their  removal. 

I  had  to  advise  troops  and  persons  of  my  falling  back, 
and  had  to  send  one  guard  thirty  miles  for  a  poor  blind 
widow  (and  six  children)  whose  husband  had  been  killed 
in  the  Alamo.  The  families  now  are  all  on  this  side  of 
the  Guadalupe.  These  things  pained  me  infinitely,  and 
with  the  responsibility  of  my  command,  weighed  upon  me 
to  an  agonizing  extent. 

In  a  few  days  [he  added]  my  force  will  be  highly 
respectable.  I  am  writing  in  the  open  air.  I  have  no 
tent,  and  am  not  looking  out  for  the  luxuries  of  life. 
Do  devise  some  plan  to  send  back  the  rascals  who  have 
gone  from  the  army  and  service  of  the  country  with 
guns.  Oh,  why  did  the  cabinet  leave  Washington?  We 
must  act  now,  and  with  great  promptness.  The  country 
must  be  saved.  This  morning  I  hear  of  men  from  the 
mouth  of  the  river — they  are  on  the  march — you  will 
hear  from  us. 

The  general  wrote  most  of  his  dispatches  at  night, 
when  he  sat  and  whittled  a  stick  (he  was  a  great  whittler) 
while  dictating,  or  while  thinking  what  to  write. 

But  reinforcements  were  on  the  way ;  and  word  came 
that  Colonel  Rusk,  the  secretary  of  war,  had  stationed  a 
guard  over  the  ferry  across  the  Brazos  at  Washington, 
with  orders  to  stop  all  men  going  eastward  with  arms. 

General  Houston  was  not  saying  much,  but  the  belief 
was  that  a  battle  would  be  fought  on  the  27th:  for  by 
this  time  Fannin  or  the  reinforcements  would  have  arrived 
— particularly  the  cannon  for  which  Major  Austin  had 
been  sent.  He  had  promised  to  report  in  twelve  days, 
sure.  Fight!  That  was  what  the  army  wanted  to  do: 

249 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

fight!    By  the  way  Sion  stormed  about,  one  would  have 
thought  that  he  would  do  all  the  fighting  alone. 

Then,  in  the  evening  of  March  25,  a  new  commotion 
swept  the  camp.  Jim,  and  Ernest,  and  Sion,  sitting  to- 
gether, heard  the  shouts  and  saw  the  running ;  and  together 
they  scampered  for  the  centre  of  the  disturbance.  A  man 
had  been  brought  in,  by  the  corporal  of  the  guard,  and 
had  been  immediately  assailed  by  questions. 

"  Fannin !  Fannin's  been  whipped !  "  were  the  cries. 
"  He  and  all  his  men  killed  or  captured !  Refugio  taken, 
too.  All  the  lower  Guadalupe  wiped  out — a  lot  of  the 
prisoners  tied  to  oak  trees  and  shot !  " 

By  the  time  that  ':he  three  boys  breathlessly  arrived,  the 
messenger,  who  was  a  Mexican  countryman  named  Peter 
Kerr,  was  being  hustled  along  by  the  corporal.  But  he 
had  answered  enough  questions  so  that  his  story  was  clear. 

Colonel  Fannin  had  waited  for  the  little  garrisons  at 
San  Patricio  to  collect  the  women  and  children  and  join 
him.  But  the  advance  of  the  Mexican  soldiers  sent  by 
Santa  Anna  into  the  south  had  been  too  rapid,  and  the 
Texan  troops  had  been  cut  off.  Then  on  the  morning 
of  March  19  he  had  begun  his  retreat  to  Victoria,  with  350 
men  and  ten  cannon.  But  that  same  day,  on  a  grassy 
prairie,  he  had  been  surrounded  by  General  Urrea  and  900 
cavalry  and  infantry,  with  cannon  and  about  100  Indians. 
Colonel  Fannin  formed  a  hollow  square,  and  beat  them 
off  all  day  long.  Early  the  next  morning  400  more  Mexi- 
cans arrived,  with  more  cannon,  and  with  100  pack  mules 
bearing  new  supplies.  Sixty  Texans  had  been  wounded, 
and  there  was  no  water,  and  very  little  food,  and  the  am- 
munition was  almost  gone.  So  before  noon  Colonel  Fannin 
had  agreed  to  surrender.  He  and  his  men  were  to  be 
treated  as  prisoners  of  war.  The  outside  volunteers  were 
to  be  sent  back  to  New  Orleans  and  the  few  Texas  citizens 
were  to  go  home,  on  parole,  not  to  fight  again  in  the  war. 

But  this  was  bad  news  indeed.  Jim  indignantly  hurled 
his  hat  on  the  ground. 

250 


RETREAT,  AND  EVER  RETREAT 

"  Think  of  it !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Gee  whiz !  Think 
of  it!  Right  at  this  time  when  we  needed  that  crowd! 
The  Mexican  says  if  Fannin  had  marched  only  three  miles 
further  'stead  of  camping  in  the  open  he'd  have  been  in 
the  timber  and  all  Mexico  couldn't  have  cut  him  off !  " 

"  We  can  fight  without  him,  anyhow,"  blurted  Sion. 
"  We've  got  enough  to  lick  Sesma  and  Woll.  And  I 
reckon  we'll  do  it,  about  day  after  to-morrow." 

"  Don't  know  whether  we  will  or  not/'  retorted  Jim. 
"  And  supposing  we  do.  They're  just  an  advance  guard. 
There's  Urrea,  now,  down  south,  with  twelve  or  fifteen 
hundred  regulars,  and  nobody  to  hold  him;  and  there's 
Santa  Anna  coming,  with  a  few  thousand  more.  And 
who's  helping  us?  Half  of  us  are  down  with  the  measles, 
anyway.  Where  are  those  East  Texas  militia  we've  been 
hearing  about?  Where  are  those  reinforcements  and 
those  cannon  from  the  mouth  of  the  Brazos?  And  look 
what  we've  lost!  All  those  companies  from  the  United 
States,  except  the  Newport  Volunteers  that  are  in  this 
camp.  The  New  Orleans  Grays,  the  Mobile  Grays,  the 
Kentucky  Mustangs,  the  Alabama  Red  Rovers,  the  Georgia 
and  Tennessee  companies,  and  all  the  rest — the  best  armed 
troops  we  had ;  and  one  of  the  best  officers — Jim  Fannin." 

"  Well,"  said  Ernest,  determined  to  make  the  best  of 
it,  "  they  weren't  all  shot.  They  just  surrendered.  Only 
half  a  dozen  were  killed  and  they  wiped  out  about  three 
hundred  Mexicans." 

"  They  all  are  paroled,  though ;  they  can't  fight  any 
more.  They  won't  break  their  parole;  they're  not  like 
Cos,"  insisted  Jim.  "  And  remember  the  Alamo.  Every 
man  massacred  whether  he'd  surrendered  or  not.  And 
remember  how  those  other  men  were  tied  to  oak  trees  and 
shot.  We're  liable  to  hear  the  same  kind  of  news  from 
Fannin  yet." 

"  Can't  help  it,"  declared  Sion,  doggedly.  "  I'm  here 
to  fight,  and  so  are  the  other  men/ 

"  You  talk  as  if  you  were  as  tall  as  that  gun  you're 
251 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

lugging  round,"  scoffed  Jim.  "  Sounds  as  if  you  were 
going  to  account  for  the  whole  Mexican  army." 

"  This  gun  shoots  just  as  hard  as  if  I  was  as  big  as 
General  Houston,"  stoutly  answered  Sion.  "  That  Mexi- 
can said  there  was  a  boy  named  Harry  Ripley  with  Fannin ; 
from  Louisiana.  He  got  wounded,  and  asked  a  woman 
named  Mrs.  Cash,  from  Goliad,  to  prop  him  up  so  he 
could  shoot.  He  popped  four  more  Mexicans  before  a 
bullet  broke  his  steadying  arm;  and  then  with  a  broken 
arm  and  a  broken  thigh  he  had  to  quit.  Said  he'd  made 
the  Mexicans  pay  double  for  what  they  gave  him.  I 
reckon  I  can  do  as  well  as  any  boy  from  the  United  States." 

"  I  reckon  you  can,  Sion,"  agreed  Jim. 

General  Houston  ordered  the  Mexican,  Peter  Kerr, 
under  close  arrest ;  would  not  even  talk  with  him,  and 
claimed  that  he  was  only  a  miserable  spy,  and  should  be 
shot,  the  first  thing  in  the  morning.  But  nobody  believed 
that  this  would  be  done;  they  all  knew  the  general  too 
well — and  Peter  evidently  had  spoken  the  truth.  Late 
that  evening  the  general  was  seen  talking  to  him,  and 
examining  him.  The  next  day  there  was  no  execution ; 
instead,  when  the  army  was  paraded,  they  listened  to  the 
adjutant,  Colonel  Ben  Fort  Smith,  read  a  general  order: 

FELLOW-SOLDIERS:  The  only  army  in  Texas  is  now 
present.  Travis  has  fallen  with  his  men  at  the  Alamo; 
Fannin's  troops  have  been  massacred  at  La  Bahia  [which 
was  Goliad].  There  are  none  to  aid  us.  There  is  here 
but  a  small  force,  and  yet  it  is  all  that  Texas  has.  We 
might  cross  the  river  and  attack  the  enemy.  We  might 
be  victorious — but  we  might  be  overcome.  There  are 
but  few  of  us,  and  if  we  fall  the  fate  of  Texas  is  sealed. 
For  this  reason,  and  until  I  feel  able  to  meet  the  enemy 
in  battle,  I  shall  retreat. 

SAM  HOUSTON, 

Major-General  Commanding. 

Not  a  cheer  greeted  the  order.  Instead,  from  angry 
men  welled  sullen  murmurs. 

252 


XVIII 
TO  FACE  THE  ENEMY  AT  LAST 

THE  camp  was  divided  in  opinion.  Sion  ruffled  like 
an  angry  turkey-cock,  and  the  majority  of  the  men  were 
almost  as  indignant.  Some  even  called  General  Houston 
a  coward — afraid  to  stand  and  fight.  Only  a  few  took  a 
calmer  view  and  stood  up  for  him,  pointing  out  that  Sesma 
and  Woll  were  being  reinforced  and  that  General  Urrea 
was  likely  to  come  up  at  any  moment,  from  below,  with  a 
new  attack. 

"  As  for  Sam  Houston  being  a  coward/'  spoke  Dick 
Carroll,  "  you  gentlemen  misjudge  him.  No  man  who 
fought  like  he  did  under  General  Jackson,  and  had  that 
arrow  jerked  out  from  him,  flesh  and  all,  is  a  coward.  He 
charged  those  Creek  breastworks  away  in  front  of  his 
men.  If  he  retreats  now,  he's  simply  playing  for  time." 

Ernest  glowed  to  hear  such  words.  He  knew  that 
Sam  Houston  could  be  no  coward. 

"  Well,  boys,"  spoke  another  in  the  group,  "  I've 
women  and  children  between  the  Colorado  and  the  Brazos, 
and  I'm  going  to  them  this  very  evening  and  move  'em 
eastward,  orders  or  no  orders." 

A  number  of  men  did  leave,  to  move  their  families. 
The  general  gave  furloughs  for  this  purpose  to  all  who 
asked. 

Camp  was  struck  a  little  before  dusk,  and  the  march 
eastward  toward  the  Brazos  was  begun.  Passing  back 
along  the  column,  and  eying  it,  the  general  turned  and 
rode  a  short  distance  with  Captain  Robert  Calder,  near 
Ernest  and  Jim. 

"  I  should  be  glad  to  have  your  views  on  this  retire- 
ment, sir/'  invited  the  general. 

"  I  am  willing  to  obey  the  orders  of  the  Commander- 
in-chief,  general,"  replied  Captain  Calder.  "  We  could 

253 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

have  whipped  the  enemy  there  at  the  Colorado.  Our  men 
all  agree  to  that.  But  I  suppose  your  idea  is  to  draw  the 
Mexicans  further  into  the  country,  until  you  can  do  the  job 
slick  and  clean." 

"  This  retirement  is  a  necessity  of  war,"  declared  the 
general.  "Yes,  sir;  we  could  have  whipped  the  enemy, 
back  at  the  Colorado;  but  we  can't  fight  battles  without 
having  men  killed  and  wounded.  We  haven't  the  means  of 
conveying  ammunition  and  baggage,  not  to  speak  of  the 
wounded.  A  battle  would  handicap  us  fatally.  Besides, 
a  defeat  of  the  enemy  at  the  Colorado  would  inevitably 
have  united  all  the  Mexican  columns  against  us.  We  \vill 
choose  some  good  position  on  the  Brazos  near  San  Felipe, 
where  by  means  of  boats  we  can  drop  down  or  up,  and 
give  the  enemy  battle  to  our  own  advantage.  I  will  do 
the  best  I  can;  but  be  assured,  the  fame  of  Jackson  can 
never  repay  me  for  my  anxiety  and  pain." 

The  timber  skirting  the  Colorado  had  been  left  behind 
when  through  the  column  spread  an  alarm.  A  body  of 
troops  were  sighted,  approaching  across  the  prairie,  from 
the  south.  Mexicans!  A  Mexican  patrol — General 
Urrea's  advance  guard  ?  No !  Scouts  galloped  out,  to 
investigate,  and  scurrying  back  reported.  Texans !  More 
Texans !  Reinforcements  from  the  mouth  of  the  Brazos ! 

The  column  was  halted,  to  wait. 

"Listen  to  the  drum!"  exclaimed  Jim,  as  he  and 
Ernest  sat  their  saddles,  watching.  "  They've  got  a 
drum ! — and  a  fife !  " 

To  brave  beat  of  drum  and  piping  of  fife,  amidst  wel- 
coming cheers  the  new  troops  arrived.  Three  companies 
they  proved  to  be — numbering  only  130  men  in  all — 
under  command  of  Major  John  Forbes :  Captain  Amasa 
Turner's  company  of  regular  infantry,  and  two  compan- 
ies of  volunteers.  They  brought  no  cannon,  and  few 
horses ;  but,  of  great  importance  to  Jim  and  Ernest,  and 
Sion,  they  brought  Leo  Roark !  From  the  wearied  ranks 
he  gaily  waved  response  to  his  cavalry  friends,  and  Sion 

254 


TO  FACE  THE  ENEMY  AT  LAST 

also  called  his  attention  with  a  series  of  loud  whoops. 

The  three  companies  fell  into  the  place  assigned  to 
them  by  General  Houston,  and  marched  on,  the  drum  rat- 
tling merrily  and  the  fife  tooting  lustily.  Music  for  the 
army! 

That  night  at  camp  the  four  veterans  of  San  Antonio 
had  a  reunion. 

"  What's  the  meaning  of  this  march,  anyhow  ?  "  de- 
manded Leo.  "  You-all  are  heading  the  wrong  way.'* 

"  We're  going  to  retreat  till  we  can  lick  the  Mexicans 
one  bunch  at  a  time/'  answered  Ernest 

"  One  man  at  a  time,  he  ought  to  say,"  growled  Sion. 

"  Where  are  all  your  men,  from  your  part  of  the 
country?"  accused  Jim  of  Leo.  "We  counted  on  five 
hundred  of  you.  You'd  better  have  left  your  drum  and 
fife  at  home  and  brought  cannon  and  mules." 

"  Fetched  in  what  men  we  could,"  retorted  Leo.  "If 
you  keep  on  retreating  you  won't  get  anybody !  The 
people  want  their  homes  protected.  They  aren't  going  to 
fall  back  and  leave  their  families.  First  they  heard  of 
the  Alamo  massacre,  and  now  they're  hearing  about 
Fannin's  defeat.  When  I  left  home  my  mother  and  the 
family  were  all  packed  up,  ready  to  light  out." 

"  My  folks  have  gone — took  only  the  little  they  could 
carry,"  said  Jim,  soberly. 

"  So  have  mine,"  said  Sion. 

Ernest,  hearing,  was  glad,  for  once,  that  his  mother 
was  in  Cincinnati. 

Leo  had  enrolled  in  the  company  from  Velasco,  near 
where  he  lived.  He'd  traded  his  shot-gun  for  a  musket, 
but  otherwise  he  was  the  same  manly  Leo  of  the  campaign 
against  Be  jar. 

On  the  next  day,  which  was  Palm  Sunday,  March  27, 
the  timber  along  the  Brazos  River  was  reached.  And 
when  the  march  crossed  the  San  Felipe  road,  from  the 
Colorado  to  the  Brazos,  rain  had  begun  to  fall,  so  that  all 
the  bottom-lands  were  heavy  with  black  mud. 

255 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Scores  of  settler  families  were  pressing  through  the 
mud,  for  safety  in  the  east.  Carts  filled  with  the  feeble 
and  the  children  and  household  goods  were  stuck  fast 
in  boggy  places,  and  people,  young  and  old,  mainly  women 
and  children,  were  trudging  ankle  deep — many  with  no 
shoes,  all  wet  and  miserable. 

"  That's  sure  a  runaway  scrape,"  remarked  Jim.  And 
as  the  Runaway  Scrape  is  the  frenzied  flight  still  known. 
"  An  awful  pity,  too.  Expect  my  mother  is  out  in  the  rain 
and  mud,  just  like  the  rest.  And  Sion's  and  Leo's." 

Morning  dawned  damply  upon  a  muddy  camp.  When 
orders  to  march  were  given,  Captain  Moseley  Baker's 
company  refused  to  retreat  any  further;  and  the  wagon 
oxen  of  the  Captain  Wiley  Martin  company  could  not  be 
found.  These  two  companies  stayed  behind ;  but  the  gen- 
eral, to  avoid  any  quarrel,  ordered  Captain  Baker  to  re- 
main at  San  Felipe  and  guard  the  river  crossing  against 
the  Mexicans,  and  for  Captain  Martin  to  guard  the  Fort 
Bend  crossing  below.  So  for  a  little  time  Jim  and  Leo  and 
Ernest  did  without  the  pugnacious  Sion. 

In  torrents  of  rain,  Monday,  the  retreat  continued, 
plastered  with  mud  and  drenched  with  water.  Creeks 
were  forded.  The  wheels  of  the  baggage  wagons  that 
had  been  collected  bogged  to  their  axles,  and  several  times 
General  Houston  clambered  off  his  horse  and  impatiently 
put  his  shoulders  to  the  tires,  helping  the  men  and  oxen. 
His  thin  black  coat  was  soaked  through  and  through. 

"  The  general  of  the  army  has  no  blanket,"  Ernest 
and  Jim  heard  him  proclaim  loudly,  as  he  rode  along  with 
two  or  three  of  the  officers.  "  I  had  a  very  good  one ; 
it  might  shelter  me  from  this  pitiless  storm,  but  some 
scoundrel  stole  it.  I  am  told,"  he  added,  "that  evilly 
disposed  persons  have  reported  that  I  am  going  to  march 
you  clear  to  the  Redlands  border  of  Texas.  This  is  false. 
I  am  going  to  march  you  up  into  the  Brazos  bottoms  to  a 
position  where  you  can  whip  the  enemy  ten  to  one,  and 
where  we  can  get  an  abundant  supply  of  corn." 

256 


TO  FACE  THE  ENEMY  AT  LAST 

It  rained  hard  all  that  night — and  a  miserable  night  it 
was.  Several  beeves  were  driven  in  and  killed  for  food. 
The  army  huddled  around  huge  fires,  cooking  slices  of 
beef  and  trying  to  dry  their  feet.  The  ground  was  too 
wet  to  lie  on.  General  Houston  sat  on  his  saddle,  his  feet 
on  a  block  of  wood,  and  a  borrowed  blanket  over  his 
shoulders.  Somebody  at  one  of  the  messes  started  a  song, 
in  a  pleasant  tenor  voice. 

Will  you  come  to  the  bow'r  I  have  shaded  for  you? 
Your  bed  shall  be  roses  bespangled  with  dew. 

Will  you,  will  you,  will  you,  will  you, 

Come  to  the  bow'r? 

That  was  the  way  it  began.  The  words  drifted  from 
fire  to  fire,  in  a  plaintive  melody.  Jim,  squatted  beside 
Ernest — both  of  them  soaked — grunted. 

"  That's  surely  a  fine  song/'  he  said.  "  Talk  about  a 
bed  of  roses !  " 

"  I'll  take  a  good  hard  plank  for  mine/'  quoth  Ernest. 
"  Without  dew.  Am  wet  enough  already !  " 

He  nodded  off,  into  a  dose,  but  was  awakened  by  Jim 
nudging  him. 

"  Look  at  the  fire/'  bade  Jim,  in  low  tones.  "  San 
Felipe's  burning !  " 

The  sky  in  the  south  was  red,  and  growing  redder. 
The  rain  had  ceased,  and  upon  the  overcast  sky  the  Jurid 
glow  mounted  high  and  higher.  All  the  camp  was  awake, 
watching,  in  a  state  of  fresh  alarm. 

General  Houston  had  arisen  from  his  saddle  seat,  and 
was  stalking  from  mess  to  mess. 

"  I  gave  no  orders  for  this,"  he  repeated.  "  The  citi- 
zens have  done  it.  It  is  a  military  measure,  to  anticipate 
the  enemy.  But  there  is  no  battle.  We  hear  no  guns. 
The  enemy  shall  not  cross  the  Brazos.  It  is  well  defended. 
Should  they  reach  the  west  bank  at  San  Felipe  they  will 
find  no  shelter  and  supplies." 

However,  the  burning  of  the  town — the  first  Ameri- 
257 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

can  town  in  Texas,  located  by  Stephen  Austin — put  the 
army  in  the  dumps  again,  and  the  song  of  "Will  You 
Come  to  the  Bower"  was  not  renewed  when  the  men 
prepared  for  another  dismal  march.  Three  taps  of  the 
drum,  by  the  general  himself,  as  the  reveille,  fell  flatly 
on  the  heavy  atmosphere.  Some  of  the  men  had  left  fami- 
lies on  the  Brazos  near  San  Felipe — some  owned  houses 
in  San  Felipe  itself ;  and  they  hated  to  move  further  on, 
while  behind  them  the  smoke  pall  hung.  Where  were  the 
Mexicans?  Henry  Karnes  and  the  "Deaf  Smith  Spy 
Company"  were  constantly  out,  on  the  scout,  but  they 
brought  in  no  definite  news. 

On  March  31,  which  was  Thursday,  camp  was  made 
in  the  bottom-lands  near  Groce's  Ferry,  of  the  Brazos 
between  San  Felipe  and  Washington.  It  looked  as  though 
this  was  to  be  a  camp  for  several  days,  at  least,  for  the 
general  set  everybody  at  work  clearing  away  the  brush  on 
the  margin  of  a  large  pond  back  from  the  river. 

What  next?  Nobody  seemed  to  know.  The  army 
had  retreated  over  200  miles  from  Gonzales,  and  now  had 
dwindled  down  from  the  1300  men  at  the  Colorado  to  only 
a  little  more  than  500  men.  But  the  general  was  energy 
itself.  He  never  quit  for  a  minute.  The  steamboat 
Yellowstone,  commanded  by  Captain  Ross,  was  found  at 
Groce's  Ferry  loading  with  cotton  for  the  Gulf.  The 
general  ordered  this  seized  and  held,  to  be  used  should 
the  army  cross  to  the  east  bank. 

He  formed  the  little  army  into  regiments.  General 
Burleson  commanded  the  first,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Sidney  Sherman  of  the  Kentucky  volunteers  (the  company 
with  the  beautiful  flag)  was  promoted  to  command  the 
second.  The  cavalry  were  attached  to  this  regiment,  and 
now  for  the  first  time  Jim  and  Ernest  were  under  a  settled 
officer.  Leo  remained  in  the  infantry,  under  Colonel 
Burleson,  and  Sion  was  still  down  opposite  the  ruins  of 
San  Felipe,  with  the  Captain  Baker  company. 

The  camp  was  aroused  each  morning  by  the  three  taps 
258 


TO  FACE  THE  ENEMY  AT  LAST 

of  the  drum  at  the  general's  quarters,  and  there  were  daily 
drills.  There  also  was  rain — rain,  rain,  rain,  until  the 
camp  was  a  mud  island,  for  the  river  Brazos  overflowed 
and  surrounded  it.  Rain,  mud,  and  measles,  and  bad 
water ;  half  the  men  ill  with  one  disease  or  another,  and 
the  general  laid  up,  part  of  the  time,  in  a  tent  that  he 
had  procured. 

Then,  on  the  second  of  April,  came  bad  news.  It  per- 
meated the  discontented  camp  like  wild-fire.  Colonel 
Fannin  and  his  men  had  not  been  paroled,  but  had  been 
killed :  shot  down,  or  bayoneted,  on  Palm  Sunday,  March 
27,  at  Goliad,  by  the  Mexican  companies !  Three  hundred 
and  twenty — think  of  it — 320  of  the  rank  and  file,  marched 
out  upon  the  prairie,  and  slain  by  the  Mexican  soldiers ! 
Santa  Anna  himself  had  sent  the  orders. 

The  New  Orleans  Grays,  the  Red  Rovers  of  Alabama, 
the  Mustangs  of  Kentucky,  and  all — all  except  twenty- 
six  or  twenty-seven  who  had  dodged  the  bullets  and  had 
escaped  in  the  brush.  Colonel  Fannin  and  Colonel  Ward 
of  the  Georgians  had  been  shot  separately.  It  was  worse 
than  even  the  Alamo. 

Now  news  was  received,  at  last,  from  the  Mexican 
army.  The  Deaf  Smith  Spy  Company,  who  had  been  out 
on  a  long  scout,  returned  with  the  word.  The  army 
were  coming  in  three  separate  columns.  Santa  Anna  was 
leading  the  centre  column,  from  Gonzales  straight  east- 
ward for  Beason's  on  the  Colorado  and  thence  to  San 
Felipe.  A  southern  column  under  General  Urrea  was 
marching  from  Goliad  northeast  for  the  coast  A  north- 
ern column  under  General  Gaona  was  marching  by  way 
of  Bastrop  (or  Mina,  on  the  Colorado  above  Moore's 
Retreat  for  Nacogdoches  in  the  far  east.  Six  thousand 
soldiers  in  all  was  given,  by  the  spies,  as  the  number — and 
they  were  sweeping  Texas  with  orders  to  shoot  every 
Texan  caught  bearing  arms.  All  the  country  was  in  full 
flight ;  the  roads  from  the  Brazos  east  were  crowded  with 
panic-stricken  settlers. 

259 


i  WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Lorenzo  de  Zavala,  the  vice-president,  joined  the  camp, 
with  a  company  of  eighty  men  from  the  Red  Lands.  He 
reported  that  Thomas  J.  Rusk,  the  secretary  of  war,  was 
on  his  way  to  help  in  the  fighting;  and  that  two  cannon 
from  Cincinnati  had  been  landed  at  the  coast  and  were 
being  hurried  forward. 

The  general  sent  the  Redlanders  down  river  to  rein- 
force Captain  Baker's  company  opposite  San  Felipe  at 
the  San  Felipe  crossing,  and  gave  strict  orders  that  no 
man  was  to  leave  the  camp  without  permission.  Secretary 
Rusk  arrived  on  April  4 ;  but  even  he  could  not  calm  the 
discontent.  Were  the  army  to  stay  here  while  the  republic 
was  being  ravaged  by  Santa  Anna  ?  What  was  the  matter 
with  that  Sam  Houston,  anyhow?  Leo  raged,  Jim  was 
sarcastic,  and  even  Ernest  felt  his  courage  ebbing. 

On  April  7  the  general  issued  an  army  order : 

The  moment  for  which  we  have  waited  with  anxiety 
and  interest  is  fast  approaching  [he  said].  The  victims 
of  the  Alamo  and  the  spirits  of  those  who  were  murdered 
at  Goliad  call  for  cool,  deliberate  vengeance.  Strict  disci- 
pline, order,  and  subordination  will  ensure  us  the  victory. 
The  army  will  be  in  readiness  for  action  at  a  moment's 
warning.  The  field  officers  have  the  immediate  execution 
of  this  order  in  charge  for  their  respective  commands. 

"  Big  words/'  fumed  Jim.  "  But  what  do  they  mean  ? 
Here  we  are,  squatting  in  the  mud  and  growing  web  feet. 
Couldn't  get  off  this  island  if  the  Mexicans  were  right 
opposite.  Oh,  yes;  we're  safe;  but  what  of  the  rest  of 
Texas  ?  What  of  our  folks  ?  Next  thing,  we'll  hear  of 
some  more  massacres,  down  the  river.  I'm  sick ;  I've  had 
the  measles  and  now  I've  got  a  cold.  What  we  need  is 
another  general/' 

That  day  cannon  shots  were  heard,  from  down  the 
river.  A  battle !  The  Mexicans  were  trying  to  cross  at 
San  Felipe.  Now  the  camp  was  in  a  fever,  indeed.  Would 
Captain  Baker  and  the  Redlanders  hold  the  crossing? 

260 


TO  FACE  THE  ENEMY  AT  LAST 

The  three  boys  listened  with  anxious  hearts,  for  Sion  was 
there  in  the  fight. 

The  firing  continued  for  two  days,  on  and  off.  Then 
it  ceased.  Colonel  Alex.  Somervell  came  in  with  the 
report  that  the  Mexican  advance  guard  had  retired  with- 
out crossing.  But  there  was  considerable  talk  about 
making  Colonel  Sidney  Sherman  the  commander-in-chief . 
However,  in  the  morning  notices,  signed  by  General 
Houston,  were  stuck  up  with  wooden  pegs  on  the  trees, 
saying  that  any  man  who  attempted  to  organize  volunteers 
from  the  army  would  be  "court-martialed  and  shot/' 
This  stopped  much  of  the  talk. 

More  recruits  joined  from  East  Texas.  Among  them 
was  one  especially  nice-looking  man,  with  the  high- 
sounding  name  of  Mirabeau  Buonaparte  Lamar.  He  was 
from  a  famous  Georgia  family;  had  been  a  newspaper 
editor,  and  could  write  poetry.  He  had  walked  almost  all 
the  way  up  from  Velasco  to  join  the  Texan  army  as  a 
private.  The  men  agreed  that  he  would  not  remain  a 
private  long. 

Colonel  Rusk,  the  secretary  of  war,  was  reported  to 
have  been  sent  by  the  government  on  purpose  to  urge 
General  Houston  to  fight.  And  a  tart  dispatch  was 
received  from  the  president. 

To  GEN.  SAM  HOUSTON. 

SIR:  The  enemy  are  laughing  you  to  scorn.  You 
must  fight  them.  You  must  retreat  no  further.  The 
country  expects  you  to  fight.  The  salvation  of  the  coun- 
try depends  on  your  doing  so. 

DAVID  G.  BURNET. 

The  general  appeared  to  pay  no  attention  to  this  inter- 
ference, as  if  he  were  bent  upon  pursuing  his  own  plans. 
But  it  was  rumored  that  one  column  of  the  Mexican  army 
had  crossed  the  Brazos,  at  last,  and  was  heading  eastward. 
This  might  be  so,  for  on  the  morning  of  April  12  orders 
were  issued  to  break  camp  and  prepare  to  leave.  All 
that  day  and  half  of  the  next  day  the  steamboat  Yellow- 

261 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

stone  and  a  ferry  flat-boat  were  busy  carrying  tlx  $23 
men,  the  wagons  and  the  horses  and  oxen,  from  the  west 
bank  to  the  east  bank. 

Affairs  looked  brighter.  At  Groce's,  on  the  east  bank, 
the  two  cannon  from  Cincinnati  were  found  waiting. 
They  were  iron  six-pounders  and  had  been  presented  by 
the  citizens  of  Cincinnati  to  the  Republic  of  Texas.  It 
seemed  good  to  Ernest  to  see  something  that  had  been  in 
Cincinnati.  He  rather  believed  that  his  mother  had  looked 
upon  these  cannon.  He  wondered  if  she  had  guessed  that 
they  were  coming  straight  to  him — and  why  she  had  not 
thought  to  put  a  note  in  them ! 

No  cannon  shot  accompanied  them;  all  had  been  lost 
on  the  long  way.  But  blacksmiths  were  set  at  work  cut- 
ting up  horseshoes  and  chains  and  other  iron,  to  be  tied 
in  cotton  bags,  as  canister.  Colonel  Hockley  was  placed 
in  charge  of  the  cannon. 

Yes,  one  column  of  the  Mexican  army  had  crossed  the 
Brazos.  A  dispatch  from  Captain  Wiley  Martin  told  this. 
A  portion  of  the  column  had  threatened  him  at  Fort 
Bend,  while  the  rest  of  the  column  had  gone  below  and 
seized  a  ferry  kept  by  an  old  negro.  They  had  yelled 
to  the  negro  in  English,  and  he  had  thought  that  they 
were  some  Texans  wanting  the  ferry. 

The  general  promptly  issued  a  proclamation,  to  reas- 
sure the  people  of  Eastern  Texas.  He  said : 

You  have  suffered  panic  to  seize  you,  and  idle  rumors 
to  guide  you.  You  will  now  be  told  that  the  enemy  have 
crossed  the  Brazos,  and  that  Texas  is  conquered.  Re- 
flect, reason  with  yourselves,  and  you  cannot  believe  a 
part  of  it.  The  enemy  have  crossed  the  Brazos,  but  they 
are  treading  the  soil  on  which  they  are  to  be  conquered. 

If  you  wish  your  country  saved  [he  continued],  join 
her  standard!  protect  your  wives,  your  children  and 
your  homes,  by  repairing  to  the  field  where  alone,  by 
discipline  and  concert  of  action,  you  can  be  effective. 

But  the  Mexicans  were  marching  on ! 
262 


TO  FACE  THE  ENEMY  AT  LAST 

That  night,  tired  of  the  nagging  from  Jim  and  Leo, 
who  sided  with  the  men  who  thought  that  they  knew  more 
than  the  general  did,  about  a  campaign,  Ernest  sought 
out  Dick  Carroll  for  comfort.  He  and  Dick,  at  least, 
would  stand  by  the  general.  There  were  others,  too. 

"  Don't  you  worry  about  the  general,  boy,"  assured 
Dick.  "  He'll  hoe  his  row,  in  spite  of  the  stones.  And 
some  day  this  army,  and  all  Texas,  will  thank  him.  It 
takes  a  big  man  to  manage  a  retreat.  Anybody  can  fight, 
but  few  have  the  nerve  to  hold  off  till  the  proper  time  to 
fight.  A  lot  of  these  complainers  aren't  reasonable.  Hyar 
we  are,  porely  armed,  porely  drilled,  porely  provisioned, 
pulling  all  ways — some  of  us  skipping  off  home  without 
staying  to  fight — and  we're  expected  to  stop  right  in  their 
tracks  an  army  ten  times  our  size,  veteran  soldiers,  the 
best  in  Mexico,  and  commanded  by  a  general  who's  never 
known  defeat.  We've  got  to  oppose  strategy  to  force. 
This  one  army  is  up  ag'in  really  three  armies,  all  bigger; 
and  we  can't  fight  and  run  away  to  fight  in  another  place, 
on  account  of  the  floods.  Besides,  we've  got  the  Injuns 
to  look  out  for.  These  East  Texas  settlements  are  open 
to  attack  from  the  prairies,  and  that  northern  column  of 
Gaona  is  liable  to  fetch  along  Injuns.  The  Comanches 
and  Cherokees  are  ready  for  the  warpath,  I  hear  tell." 

"  But  the  general's  letting  the  centre  column  get  ahead 
of  us,"  hazarded  Ernest. 

"  No,  he  isn't.  He's  letting  it  get  in  front  of  us,  and 
that  means  we're  behind  it.  It's  got  to  look  two  ways, 
now.  And  it's  marching  further  and  further,  and  separat- 
ing more  and  more  from  the  other  columns.  Sam  Houston 
wants  it  to  run  on  the  rope  a  bit  longer;  then  he'll  lick 
it,  and  have  time  to  tend  to  the  others.  That's  my  notion 
of  what  Sam  Houston  is  up  to." 

"  Where  do  you  think  they're  going,  Dick  ?  " 

"  Who?  The  centre  column  that  crossed  the  Brazos? 
To  Harrisburg,  I  reckon,  and  try  to  capture  the  govern- 
ment cabinet." 

263 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  Is  Santa  Anna  with  them  ?  " 

"  Don't  know.  Nobody  seems  to  know  yet.  But 
we'll  find  out.  About  twenty  miles  beyond  here  the  road 
forks:  one  fork  continues  on  east  to  the  Trinity  and 
Nacogdoches,  the  other  fork  bends  south  for  Harrisburg. 
And  if  we  don't  take  the  south  fork  I  miss  my  guess." 

It  was  generally  known  that  all  the  companies  down 
the  Brazos  had  been  ordered  to  meet  the  main  body  at 
Donoho's  Ranch,  five  miles  east.  This  looked  like  busi- 
ness. To-night  the  camp  was  more  cheerful.  The  fife 
played  the  tune  "  Will  You  Come  to  the  Bower,"  some  of 
the  men  sang,  and  even  Jim  and  Leo  sought  their  blankets 
less  disgruntled. 

The  next  noon,  of  April  14,  camp  was  made  at 
Donoho's,  to  await  the  companies  that  had  been  ordered 
up  from  below.  This  camp  was  rather  hard  on  the 
Donoho  place,  for  most  of  the  fence  rails  were  torn  down 
to  feed  the  camp  fires.  A  number  of  refugee  families 
were  collected  here  on  their  flight  to  the  Trinity  River  and 
eastward  still.  Jim  looked  in  vain  for  his  "  folks."  The 
wearied  outfits  with  their  carts  and  oxen  hastened  onward, 
fearful  lest  the  army  pass  them  and  leave  them  exposed  to 
the  enemy. 

Captain  Baker  arrived  to  report  that  his  company  were 
on  hand,  camped  by  the  road  about  three  miles  further  on. 
Captain  Martin  also  came  in.  He  said,  very  distinctly : 

"  General,  I  have  brought  but  my  sword.  On  hearing 
that  you  are  retreating  to  Nacogdoches  my  company  refuse 
to  remain  with  you,  and  declare  that  they  must  protect 
their  families." 

"  Are  you  and  your  men  willing  to  retreat  beyond 
the  Trinity  to  Nacogdoches,  captain?"  asked  one  of  the 
men,  of  Captain  Baker. 

"  Never,  never !  "  answered  the  captain,  determinedly. 
"If  General  Houston  will  not  take  us  to  meet  the  enemy, 
we  will  elect  a  commander  who  will ! " 

264 


TO  FACE  THE  ENEMY  AT  LAST 

The  general  was  standing  talking  with  Captain  Martin 
only  a  few  feet  away,  and  heard.  But  he  replied  not  a 
single  word. 

An  old  negro  also  arrived  from  below.  He  said  that 
he  had  been  the  ferry-man  near  Fort  Bend,  whom  the 
Mexicans  had  bamboozled.  They  had  held  him  several 
days. 

"  Dey  gwine  straight  on  to  Harrisburg  to  ketch  the 
gubberment,"  he  proclaimed.  "  Santa  Anna  wif  'um. 
Yessuh,  he  wif  'um.  I  done  saw  him.  He  say :  '  You  tell 
Sam  Houston  I  know  he  up  dere  in  de  bushes,  an'  when  I 
get  done  wif  dese  land-robbers  down  hyar  Fse  comin'  up 
to  smoke  him  out/  Yessuh ;  dat's  what  he  say." 

Camp  was  made  the  next  evening  at  Mr.  McCurley's 
ranch,  thirteen  miles  east.  More  refugees  were  here. 
The  Martin  company  had  been  ordered  by  the  general  to 
proceed  on  and  to  protect  the  settlers  crossing  the  Trinity 
from  the  Indians.  That  suited  the  company  better.  But 
the  Baker  company  were  picked  up,  and  Sion  joined  his 
three  comrades  again.  He  was  gleeful,  but  also  critical. 

"  We  drove  those  Mexicans  back  from  the  river,  all 
right,"  he  asserted.  "  We  got  fooled,  though,  once. 
Thought  we  saw  a  thundering  big  lot  of  cavalry  coming 
full  tilt,  and  after  we'd  set  fire  to  the  town,  against  'em, 
we  found  out  they  were  only  a  bunch  of  cattle.  Anyway, 
here  we  all  are,  now.  And  if  Sam  Houston  doesn't  let  us 
take  the  Harrisburg  road  to-morrow,  to  meet  up  with 
Santa  Anna,  we're  going  to  elect  a  general  who  will." 

"  Colonel  Rusk  says  we're  going  to  Harrisburg,"  spoke 
Ernest,  hopefully. 

"  He  does,  does  he  ?  "  responded  Sion.  "  Huh !  Maybe 
he's  the  boss  and  maybe  he  isn't.  We'll  mighty  soon  find 
out,  to-morrow." 

The  march  was  resumed  in  a  driving  rain.  The  men 
trudged  heavily,  and  even  the  horses  seemed  to  share  in 
the  rebellious  feeling.  But  General  Houston  had  given 
no  indication  of  what  he  had  decided,  and  rather  a 

265 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

pathetic  figure  he  made,  as  he  rode  along  in  the  pelting 
storm.  He  still  wore  his  thin  old  black  coat ;  his  whitish 
hat  flopped  on  his  head,  his  legs  were  clad  in  baggy  snuff- 
colored  trousers  and  cowhide  boots;  and  his  sword  was 
tied  around  his  waist  by  buckskin  thongs.  A  month's 
beard  covered  his  face. 

The  fife  and  drum  had  played  a  tune  at  the  beginning; 
but  when  the  Roberts  ranch,  where  the  road  forked,  was 
reached,  the  music  stopped,  and  the  rear  of  the  column 
crowded  up  against  the  hesitating  van.  General  Houston 
had  spurred  ahead.  Mr.  Roberts  the  rancher  was  stand- 
ing at  his  gate,  talking  with  several  officers,  as  the  general 
arrived.  With  the  cavalry,  in  the  advance,  Ernest  heard 
the  words  plainly. 

"Is  that  the  road  to  Harrisburg?"  demanded  the 
officers. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Mr.  Roberts ;  and  he  pointed. 
"  This  right-hand  road  will  carry  you  down  to  Harrisburg 
as  straight  as  a  compass." 

"To  the  right,  boys!  To  the  right!"  shouted  the 
officers,  galloping  away. 

As  the  word  passed,  a  great  cheer  arose.  The  head 
of  the  column  promptly  turned  into  the  south,  on  the 
right-hand  trail.  The  music  struck  up  blithely.  The 
general  sat  his  horse,  watching,  with  a  little  smile  on  his 
haggard  face. 

And  down  the  Harrisburg  road  briskly  marched  the 
column,  to  find  Santa  Anna,  now  fifty  miles  in  the  lead. 


XIX 
FINDING  SANTA  ANNA 

HARRISBURG  was  only  about  twenty  miles  inland  from 
Galveston  Bay  of  the  coast.  So  Santa  Anna  had  marched 
clear  across  Texas,  with  General  Houston  at  first  before 
him,  and  now  behind  him.  On  the  bay  shore  east  of 
Harrisburg  was  the  town  of  New  Washington;  and  a 
few  miles  north  of  New  Washington  was  Lynch's  Ferry 
and  Lynchburg,  of  the  San  Jacinto  River — just  above 
where  the  river,  flowing  southward,  widens  into  San 
Jacinto  Bay  in  the  upper  part  of  Galveston  Bay. 

From  the  west,  Buffalo  Bayou  (near  whose  mouth  is 
to-day  located  the  city  of  Houston)  joined  the  San  Jacinto 
River  at  Lynch's  Ferry.  Somewhere  to  the  south  of  the 
angle  formed  by  the  Bayou,  and  the  San  Jacinto  River  and 
bay,  were  the  Santa  Anna  army.  They  could  not  go  much 
further  east,  that  was  certain.  They  would  go  north,  for 
East  Texas.  Urrea  was  taking  care  of  the  south. 

To-day's  march  from  McCurley's  ranch  was  a  hard 
one.  The  prairie  road  was  soft  with  bogs  and  with  mud 
from  the  rain,  and  everybody  was  in  a  hurry.  The  "  Twin 
Sisters,"  as  the  Cincinnati  cannon  had  been  christened, 
were  dragged  with  long  ropes — a  score  of  volunteers  lend- 
ing their  hands.  The  cannon  wheels  and  the  wheels  of 
the  wagons  sank  deeply  into  the  mushy  sod.  The  general 
frequently  dismounted  and  helped  push  and  pull.  There 
were  so  many  sloughs  and  creeks,  also,  that  it  took  until 
dark  to  go  twelve  miles,  and  even  then  camp  was  made 
on  wet  ground  at  the  edge  of  a  sluggish  creek. 

Buffalo  Bayou,  curving  into  the  south  as  it  reached 
back  from  the  San  Jacinto,  sent  out  many  branches ;  and 
Jim  and  Ernest  and  all  were  well  fagged  out  when,  before 
noon  of  April  18,  the  third  day  from  McCurley's  and 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

the  forking  of  the  trails,  the  toiling  army  at  last  reached 
the  main  channel  of  the  bayou,  almost  opposite  Harrisburg. 

Not  a  Mexican  soldier  had  been  sighted;  but  now, 
slightly  to  the  southeast,  across  the  bayou,  lay  Harrisburg. 
It  had  been  burned,  for  a  veil  of  smoke  from  its  smoulder- 
ing rafters  hung  low  over  the  bayou  timber,  marking  the 
site. 

So  there,  between  the  bayou  and  the  coast,  a  short 
stretch  of  timber-dotted  prairie  and  swamp  country,  was 
Santa  Anna  with  his  army. 

However,  the  other  army  were  almost  too  tired  to  talk. 
During  the  forced  march  of  fifty-five  miles  from 
McCurley's,  in  two  and  a  half  days  of  rain  and  mud,  Jim 
and  Ernest  had  scarcely  seen  Leo  and  Sion.  As  soon  as 
the  camps  had  been  located,  and  supper  eaten,  everybody 
had  gone  to  sleep.  Now  the  word  was  passed  that  a  half 
day's  rest  would  be  given,  to  freshen  the  army  up  for  a 
battle. 

Deaf  Smith  and  Henry  Karnes,  the  chief  scouts,  took 
two  or  three  of  the  Deaf  Smith  Spies,  and  swimming  their 
horses,  crossed  the  rapid  bayou  on  a  raft,  to  reconnoitre. 
Otherwise  it  was  a  lazy  afternoon.  But  about  dusk  Deaf 
Smith  returned,  driving  two  prisoners  before  them.  He 
made  them  row  the  raft,  and  followed  them  in  to  camp, 
a  pair  of  leather  saddle-bags  in  his  hand,  his  rifle  in  the 
other.  There  was  no  use  yelling  questions.  But 

"  I  know  that  one  fellow,  and  so  do  you !  "  exclaimed 
Ernest,  to  Jim.  "  That  little  fellow.  Remember  him  ? 
He's  a  paisano  from  Bejar.  He  was  in  Captain  Seguin's 
Mexican  company,  too,  before  San  Antonio." 

"  Well,  you  never  know  which  way  those  paisanos  are 
going  to  jump,"  quoth  Jim. 

The  two  prisoners  were  conducted  to  headquarters  by 
Deaf  Smith.  The  "  little  fellow  "  proved  to  be  a  guide 
for  Santa  Anna ;  and  the  other  prisoner  was  a  captain  in 
the  Mexican  army,  who  had  been  carrying  dispatches 
from  General  Filisola  the  Italian  to  Santa  Anna.  Deaf 

268 


FINDING  SANTA  ANNA 

Smith  had  caught  both  of  the  men  on  the  main  road  for 
Harrisburg. 

The  guide  told  General  Houston  that  the  Santa  Anna 
army  numbered  500  infantry  and  100  cavalry.  As  for  the 
dispatches  in  the  leather  bags 

"  Jiminy !  "  cried  Sion,  who  with  Leo  sought  out  the 
other  boys,  after  having  skirmished  for  the  true  news. 
"  Deaf  Smith  says  those  dispatches  were  so  fresh  that  the 
ink  on  'em  was  hardly  dry  yet.  Those  were  Travis's 
deerhide  saddle-bags — had  his  name  on  'em.  The  dis- 
patches told  us  just  what  we  want  to  know.  Santa  Anna's 
ahead,  all  alone,  with  only  six  hundred  men.  Urrea's 
clear  down  at  Matagorda.  Gaona's  away  back  up  north, 
toward  Bastrop.  He  got  lost.  Filisola  and  Sesma  are 
at  the  Brazos,  near  Fort  Bend  below  San  Felipe ;  and  the 
only  thing  that's  liable  to  interfere  is  Cos  the  parole- 
breaker.  Filisola's  hurrying  him  forward  with  five 
hundred  men." 

"  Yes,"  put  in  Leo,  "  and  Deaf  Smith  says  Harrisburg 
was  burned  on  the  fifteenth,  and  the  Mexicans  got  to  the 
bay  just  in  time  to  see  President  Burnet  setting  out  in  a 
skiff  for  Galveston  Island.  Only  three  printers  were  left 
in  the  town.  Then  Santa  Anna  started  on  for  New 
Washington  and  Lynch's  Ferry,  to  cut  us  off  if  we  re- 
treated east.  But  when  he  finds  we're  here  to  fight  him, 
and  have  cut  him  off,  in  a  pocket,  he'll  have  to  get  out 
either  over  the  bayou  again,  or  else  by  Lynch's  Ferry. 
He  doesn't  know  we're  here — he  thinks  we're  retreating 
to  the  Trinity  and  Nacogdoches.  That's  what  all  the 
settlers  have  told  him.  And  if  we  hurry  we  can  beat  him 
to  the  San  Jacinto,  and  he's  our  meat!" 

"  He  sure  is !  "  exulted  Jim.  "  This  army  can  lick 
any  six  hundred  Mexicans  that  ever  were  born." 

"  I  reckon  Sam  Houston  knew  his  business,  after  all," 
admitted  Sion. 

That  night  the  camp  was  impatient  for  the  dawn. 
Deaf  Smith  estimated  that  the  Mexican  army  were  less 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

than  a  day's  march  away.  If  they  weren't  overhauled 
before  they  crossed  the  juncture  of  Buffalo  Bayou  and 
the  San  Jacinto  River  they'd  have  a  clear  lead  again,  and 
could  go  on  up  to  Nacogdoches,  and  summon  the  Indians 
of  the  northern  prairies,  and  perhaps  unite  with  the 
Gaona  column. 

General  Houston  and  Colonel  Rusk,  the  secretary  of 
war,  had  had  a  conference. 

"  We  don't  need  to  talk,"  the  general  was  reported 
to  have  said.  "  You  think  we  ought  to  fight,  and  so  do  I." 

There  still  were  some  men  who  feared  that  the  general 
might  wait.  Colonel  Sherman  promised  his  regiment 
that  if  the  general  would  not  fight,  they  could  follow  him 
and  he'd  soon  give  them  enough.  But  an  aide  summoned 
him  and  Colonel  Burleson  to  headquarters  and  when 
Colonel  Sherman  returned,  everything  was  all  right. 

The  general  had  asked  him  and  Colonel  Burleson  if 
they  had  beef  on  hand  for  three  days. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  they  replied. 

"  Very  well,"  had  said  General  Houston.  "  You  will 
see  then  that  each  man  is  supplied  with  cooked  rations 
for  three  days,  and  hold  the  camp  in  readiness  to  march. 
We  will  see  if  we  can  find  Santa  Anna.  Good  evening, 
gentlemen." 

The  morning  dawned  for  a  day  of  energy.  The  army 
ate  a  hasty  breakfast  of  beef  strips  wound  around  green 
sticks  and  held  in  the  blaze,  and  orders  were  given  to 
fall  in.  General  Houston  rode  in  front  of  the  lines,  and 
from  his  horse  made  a  speech.  It  was  a  short  speech,  but 
it  was  enough. 

"  The  army  will  cross,  and  we  will  meet  the  enemy," 
he  declared.  "  Some  of  us  may  be  killed,  and  must  be 
killed.  But,  soldiers,  remember  the  Alamo,  the  Alamo, 
the  Alamo!" 

"  By  thunder,  after  that  speech  there'll  be  mighty  few 
prisoners  taken ;  I  know  that ! "  exclaimed  Major 
SomervelL 

270 


FINDING  SANTA  ANNA 

Colonel  Rusk  began  an  address.  He  had  proceeded 
only  a  few  words,  when  he  stopped,  amidst  the  cheering, 
and  bowed,  and  said,  simply :  "I  am  done."  He  evi- 
dently saw  that  no  more  words  were  necessary. 

First,  the  bayou  was  to  be  crossed.  It  was  fifty  yards 
wide,  and  running  swiftly.  The  old  ferryboat — a  scow — 
had  been  found,  but  it  was  leaky,  and  the  general  fumed 
angrily  when  he  saw  that  it  had  not  been  repaired  accord- 
ing to  orders.  There  was  no  time  to  repair  it  now.  If 
Cos  or  Santa  Anna  should  come  while  the  army  were 
crossing — whew ! 

The  boat  had  no  oars,  even.  General  Houston  flung 
off  his  black  coat,  grabbed  an  ax,  and  began  to  hew  an 
oar  from  a  piece  of  fence  rail.  He  delivered  orders  right 
and  left,  while  he  hewed.  A  second  oar  was  needed. 
Men  were  set  at  work  tying  rawhide  ropes  and  horsehair 
cabrestas  or  picket  lines  together.  Only  the  saddle- 
horses,  the  "  Twin  Sisters "  teams,  and  one  baggage 
wagon  were  to  be  taken.  The  rest  of  the  baggage  and 
animals,  and  the  sick  men,  were  to  be  left  here  on  the  west 
bank. 

Thirty  pioneers  or  trail-makers  were  sent  over  first, 
while  four  men  bailed.  They  carried  an  end  of  the  rope, 
and  made  it  fast  to  a  tree;  and  the  rope,  thus  stretched 
from  bank  to  bank,  formed  a  guide  for  the  boat.  When 
the  boat  was  returned,  rowed  and  paddled,  the  general 
himself  leaped  aboard,  afoot,  with  the  next  detachment. 
His  horse  whinnied,  and  sprang  into  the  water  and  swam 
after.  Colonel  Rusk  stayed  on  the  west  bank.  Running 
between  them,  guided  by  the  rope,  the  boat  made  passage 
after  passage.  To  help  out,  the  raft  which  had  served 
Deaf  Smith  was  called  into  service. 

The  infantry  and  cannon  and  wagon  were  transferred 
before  the  cavalry  moved.  The  boat  soon  was  leaking 
much  worse,  and  threatened  to  sink  or  capsize.  The  four 
men  bailing  furiously  could  scarcely  keep  it  afloat. 

Noon  passed,  and  still  the  cavalry  waited,  and  still 
271 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

the  infantry  were  being  ferried  by  scow  and  raft,  urged 
from  either  bank  by  the  shouts  of  the  general  and  Colonel 
Rusk. 

Somebody  in  Ernest  and  Jim's  company  had  picked  up, 
on  the  ground  where  the  general's  quarters  had  been 
located,  a  piece  of  paper  which  he  had  thrown  aside.  It 
was  the  first  part  of  a  note,  written  in  lead  pencil  to 
Mr.  Henry  Raguet,  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  in 
Nacogdoches.  The  fragment  said: 

CAMP  AT  HARRISBURG,  April  19,  1836. 
SIR:  This  morning  we  are  in  preparation  to  meet 
Santa  Anna,  It  is  the  only  chance  of  saving  Texas. 
From  time  to  time  I  have  looked  for  reinforcements  in 
vain.  The  convention  adjourning  to  Harrisburg  struck 
panic  throughout  the  country.  Texas  could  have  started 
at  least  four  thousand  men.  We  will  only  have  about 
seven  hundred  to  march  with,  besides  the  camp  guard. 
We  go  to  conquer.  It  is  wisdom,  growing  out  of  neces- 
sity, to  meet  the  enemy  now ;  every  consideration  enforces 
it.  No  previous  occasion  would  justify  it.  ... 

"  Sounds  like  business,"  approved  one  of  the  men, 
as  the  note  was  circulated. 

Toward  sunset  only  one  boatload  of  the  infantry 
remained  to  be  ferried.  Sion  and  Leo  had  gone — they 
had  waved  to  Jim  and  Ernest;  and  balancing,  Sion  had 
grinned  with  glee  at  the  adventure. 

"  Cavalry's  turn,  now,  gentlemen,"  called  Colonel 
Rusk.  "  Swim  your  horses  well  below  the  ferry,  and 
don't  crowd." 

"  Come  on,  boys,"  bade  Colonel  Sherman.  "  Tie  up 
your  bridles." 

The  bridle  lines  were  tied  loosely  about  the  horses' 
necks,  so  that  the  animals  would  not  entangle  their  feet, 
and  by  companies  the  horses  were  led  to  the  water's  edge. 
Then  the  men  fell  back,  forming  a  half  circle,  to  shout 
and  wave  their  arms  and  hats,  and  crowd  the  horses  for- 
ward In  plunged  the  gallant  Colonel  Sherman,  to  head 

272 


FINDING  SANTA  ANNA 

his  own  horse  across,  and  slipping  from  the  saddle,  to 
swim  alongside,  holding  by  the  mane. 

On  the  bank  the  front  rank  of  horses  were  pressed  for- 
ward by  their  comrades  behind,  jostling  and  snorting  to 
the  shouting  and  waving  of  the  men.  Presently  in 
splashed  one  horse,  and  another,  and  another,  to  launch 
in  the  wake  of  the  Colonel  Sherman  horse.  Some  disap- 
peared entirely  as  they  took  the  plunge  into  the  deep 
water.  In  went  Jim's  horse;  in  went  Duke — practically 
heels  over  head ;  and  Ernest  watched  anxiously  for  him 
to  break  the  surface  again,  for  it  was  well  known  that  if 
a  horse  got  water  in  his  ears,  while  swimming,  he  would 
drown.  But  up  bobbed  Duke's  yellow  head ;  he  blew  the 
water  from  his  nostrils,  and  bravely  stuck  out  along  with 
the  procession. 

Every  horse  of  the  sixty  reached  the  opposite  bank 
without  mishap ;  scrambling  out,  shook  himself  violently, 
and  joined  his  fellows,  herded  together  by  the  first  of  the 
cavalrymen  ferried  across. 

The  baggage  wagon  and  the  Twin  Sisters  had  been 
rafted  over.  Twilight  was  gathering  when  the  last  boat- 
load of  men  was  landed.  Colonel  Rusk  accompanied  it. 
He  stepped  ashore,  and  he  and  General  Houston  gripped 
each  other's  hands.  The  camp  guard  left  at  the  other 
side  cheered. 

"  Thank  God,"  uttered  the  general.  And,  to  the 
colonels  commanding :  "  Form  the  ranks." 

Now  across  Buffalo  Bayou,  on  the  Harrisburg  and 
Santa  Anna  side  toiled  the  little  army,  at  best  pace.  In 
the  darkness  they  clattered  over  a  bridge  which  crossed 
a  branch  bayou  running  north  into  Buffalo  Bayou. 

Vince's  Bayou,  was  this,  by  report  along  the  column, 
and  Vince's  Bridge  of  the  road  from  Harrisburg :  the  road 
taken  by  the  Mexican  army.  But  presently  the  column 
left  the  main  road  and  diverged  to  the  left,  following  closer 
the  timber  down  Buffalo  Bayou. 

"  Great  Caesar !  "  murmured  Jim,  dimly  seen  as  he  rode 

273 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

at  Ernest's  right  hand.  "If  this  keeps  up  all  night  well 
reach  the  mouth  at  the  San  Jacinto,  and  Lynch's.  Can't 
go  any  further  then  without  more  ferrying. 

By  midnight  the  infantry  were  staggering  and  stum- 
bling, and  even  the  horses  moved  on  leaden  feet.  But 
nobody  complained.  Seven  hundred  fighting  Texans  were 
hot  on  the  hunt  for  600  hateful  invading  Mexicans,  and 
the  two  trails  would  meet  somewhere  close  ahead. 

At  one  o'clock  by  the  stars  (for  the  sky  had  cleared 
at  last)  the  order  to  rest  for  two  hours  was  given.  The 
infantry  dropped  in  their  tracks,  Ernest  and  Jim  and  the 
other  horsemen  simply  tumbled  from  their  saddles.  And 
here  concealed  in  the  fragrant  evergreens  the  little  army 
panted  and  shivered  and  dozed. 

"After  this  war's  over,"  mused  Jim,  drowsily,  hud- 
dling under  his  wet  blanket  beside  Ernest,  "  I'm  going  to 
change  my  clothes.  A  fellow  likes  a  clean  shirt  and  dry 
socks  once  in  a  while !  Maybe  to-morrow  I'll  capture  an 
officer  and  take  his.  Those  Mexican  officers  dress  fine." 

"  Guess  Sion  and  Leo  are  getting  all  the  action  they 
want,  this  time,"  stammered  Ernest,  with  teeth  chattering. 
"  But  we're  lucky  that  none  of  us  had  to  stay  with  that 
camp  guard,  back  at  the  bayou  crossing." 

"  Those  fellows  certainly  did  hate  to  stay,"  agreed 
Jim.  "  They're  liable  to  have  to  fight  the  whole  Mexican 
army,  though,  if  there's  a  retreat.  Or  Cos  may  attack 
'em  on  his  way  in." 

Ernest  dropped  into  an  uneasy  sleep.  He  dreamed 
that  he  was  home  and  that  his  mother  was  trying  to  tuck 
him  in  bed  with  covers  which  were  too  short ! 

The  easternmost  stars  were  just  paling  when  the  camp 
was  aroused  by  orders  to  fall  in  again.  Stiffly  all  obeyed. 
Ernest  had  faint  recollection  of  the  usual  three  taps  of  the 
drum,  from  the  general's  quarters,  as  first  signal — but 
he  had  found  it  very  hard  to  obey  them.  However,  now 
the  officers  were  urging — the  general's  voice  was  echoing 
through  the  grayness — somebody  said  that  he  had  slept 

274 


FINDING  SANTA  ANNA 

with  the  coil  of  cannon  rope  for  a  pillow — and  into  the  cold 
saddles  on  the  hunched  horses  must  the  cavalry  climb. 

"  Hee-yaw !  "  yawned  Jim.  "  We're  riding,  anyhow. 
Only  the  cavalry  and  the  high-up  officers  have  horses. 
That's  tough  on  some  of  the  officers  who've  been  a-straddle 
all  the  way  from  the  Colorado." 

"  Wonder  if  we  ever  eat  again,"  responded  Ernest, 
who  had  a  woefully  hollow  feeling. 

"  Sure  thing,"  asserted  Jim.  "  The  general,  he'll  just 
take  us  in  sight  of  those  Mexicans  cooking  breakfast — so 
we  can  smell  the  coffee,  you  know ;  then  he  won't  have  to 
give  a  single  order,  but  you'll  see  us  charge  a-whooping, 
for  the  kettles !  " 

Camp  had  been  made  without  supper.  The  march 
was  made  without  breakfast.  Nobody  could  accuse  the 
general,  now,  of  dilly-dallying! 

Away  galloped  the  Deaf  Smith  Spy  Company,  com- 
manded by  Henry  Karnes  the  red-head,  to  scout  in 
advance.  The  army  could  always  depend  upon  the  Deaf 
Smith  Spies.  At  slower  pace  the  column  followed,  plod- 
ding wearily  and  hungrily  through  the  damp  timber  and 
the  tall  prairie  grass,  cloaked  in  the  chillness  of  early  dawn. 

After  a  march  of  seven  miles,  halt  was  ordered  for 
breakfast  at  last,  in  the  sunrise.  Rations  had  given  out, 
but  several  cattle  were  sighted  near,  and  were  driven  in 
and  killed.  Speedily  the  soldiers,  horse  and  foot,  were 
grouped  about  fires,  toasting  the  fresh  meat  on  sticks, 
regular  buccaneer  fashion.  The  cannon  horses  were  un- 
fastened from  the  traces,  and  they  and  the  mounts  of  the 
cavalry  and  the  field  officers  industriously  grazed.  It 
was  a  wild  and  picturesque  sight :  700  ragged,  bedraggled, 
whiskered  men  (not  to  speak  of  the  boys)  squatting 
around  fires,  their  guns  in  their  laps,  and  all  intently  toast- 
ing bloody  meat.  The  sun,  which  had  risen  above  the 
timber  of  the  crooked  Buffalo  Bayou,  shone  peacefully 
upon  them,  through  the  magnolias  and  live-oaks,  and  upon 
the  prairie  beyond. 

275 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

This  process  of  breakfast-getting  was  very  slow ;  and 
Ernest,  with  eyes  smarting  and  mouth  watering,  was 
manipulating  his  meat  on  his  stick,  trying  to  hurry  it,  when 
an  exclamation  from  Jim  interrupted  him. 

"Aw,  shucks!  Here  come  those  scouts,  lickity-split, 
as  if  they  had  some  sort  of  a  big  tell !  Why  can't  they  wait 
till  a  fellow's  eaten?" 

Along  the  timber  edge  from  the  east  a  squad  of  the 
scouts,  led  by  Deaf  Smith,  were  racing  back  to  the  army. 

"  What's  the  matter  now  ?  "  hailed  voices,  impatiently. 

"  Saw  the  enemy.  They're  on  ahead  a  short  piece. 
You-airil  have  to  hurry." 

Up  sprang  the  camp.  The  cannoneers  leaped  for  their 
team,  the  cavalry  for  their  saddles.  Having  listened 
shortly  to  the  report  of  Deaf  Smith,  the  general  roared 
his  orders — repeated  briskly  by  Colonel  Burleson  and 
Colonel  Sherman,  and  by  the  company  captains. 

"Fall  in,  men!    Fall  in!" 

"  By  gravy,  I  don't  leave  my  meat,  you  can  bet," 
scolded  Jim,  running,  with  his  laden,  smoking  stick,  for  his 
horse.  Ernest  followed  his  example.  Men  were  doing 
the  same.  The  army  "  chawed  "  as  they  went. 

The  scouts  reported  that  a  few  miles  before  they  had 
encountered  an  advance  guard  of  the  Mexican  army — had 
been  chased  but  had  escaped.  Nobody  killed.  By  all 
appearances  the  Mexican  army  were  marching  from  New 
Washington  north  to  cross  the  San  Jacinto  and  the  mouth 
of  the  bayou  at  Lynch's  Ferry.  Washington  had  been 
burned. 

Throughout  the  ranks,  afoot  and  mounted,  rifles  began 
to  crack.  Jim  promptly  shot  into  the  air,  and  swiftly 
reloaded. 

"  Go  ahead.  Clean  out  your  gun,"  he  bade,  to  Ernest ; 
and  Ernest  likewise  pulled  harmless  trigger.  His  little 
rifle  spoke  smartly. 

The  general  came  riding  furiously  down  the  column. 

"  Stop  that  firing !  "  he  fairly  bellowed. 
276 


FINDING  SANTA  ANNA 

"  No,  we  won't,  general,"  replied  somebody,  good- 
naturedly.  "  Our  guns  have  been  loaded  over  two  weeks 
and  we  don't  intend  to  meet  the  enemy  with  our  powder 
wet." 

The  general  drew  his  sword. 

"  I'll  run  the  next  man  through  who  fires  without 
orders/'  he  declared. 

"Bang!" 

"  It  won't  do  for  you  to  try  that  game,  now,  general," 
warned  the  shooter.  The  ranks  laughed.  General 
Houston  glared  around  him  for  an  instant,  and  with  a 
shrug  of  his  great  shoulders  clapped  his  sword  back  and 
rode  to  the  front  again. 

The  column  lunged  forward  at  best  speed.  Now  in- 
deed it  was  a  race  to  see  which  army  would  be  the  first 
to  reach  the  crossing.  Colonel  John  A.  Wharton,  of  the 
staff,  took  thirty  of  the  cavalry  and  dashed  away,  to 
reconnoitre  the  crossing  and  keep  the  enemy  in  play  until 
the  army  could  arrive.  Jim  and  Ernest  regretfully 
watched  the  advance  disappear  in  the  margin  of  the  tim- 
ber. Only  men  had  been  picked,  mainly  from  one 
company. 

"  I  always  knew  I  ought  to  have  joined  that  company, 
in  the  first  place,"  deplored  Jim.  "  Now  they'll  find  Santa 
Anna  and  get  all  the  best  clothes !  " 

But  no  sounds  of  a  battle  were  heard — ah,  yes,  there 
echoed  a  rifle  shot!  And  another.  The  shooting 
ceased.  And  when,  breathless,  dripping,  men  and  horses 
alike,  with  perspiration,  the  army  rounded  a  shoulder  of 
timber,  they  saw,  before,  an  expanse  of  flat,  marshy 
ground,  inhabited  by  myriads  of  piping,  screaming  wild 
fowl ;  eastward  still  was  flashing  San  Jacinto  Bay,  with  the 
juncture  of  the  Buffalo  Bayou  and  the  San  Jacinto  River 
above  its  upper  end — the  few  scattered  houses  at  Lynch's 
Ferry,  and  the  waiting  horsemen  of  Colonel  Wharton's 
command.  Not  a  Mexican  soldier  was  in  sight. 

The  Colonel  Wharton  detachment  were  found  at  the 
277 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

ferry  landing  in  possession  of  a  fine  new  flatboat  equipped 
with  a  sail  and  loaded  with  foodstuffs.  They  said  that 
Captain  Hancock  and  Lieutenant  Grain  and  four  others 
had  arrived  before  the  rest,  and  that  a  guard  of  twenty 
Mexican  soldiers  had  fled  south  without  firing  a  shot. 
Had  left  the  flatboat,  of  course — for  which,  much  obliged 
to  them!  Santa  Anna  had  shipped  the  boat  up  the  bay 
from  New  Washington,  to  be  ready  for  him.  Now  he 
could  come  and  get  it. 

"  We  won.  Hurrah ! "  cheered  Ernest,  excitedly. 
"  We  beat  Santa  Anna  to  the  crossing." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  and  we  corralled  a  flatboat  full  of  breakfast, 
too,"  reminded  Jim.  "  Do  you  see  that  big  house  yonder, 
across  the  San  Jacinto?  That's  Lorenzo  de  Zavala's 
house.  He  lives  here.  He  and  Colonel  Lynch  and  the 
rest  of  the  bay  fellows  are  right  at  home." 

General  Houston  immediately  ordered  the  boat  taken 
up  the  bayou  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  and  the  army 
to  follow  along  the  bank,  out  of  the  flat  to  the  timber. 

Camp  was  made  on  high  ground  in  the  shade  of  great 
live-oaks,  whose  branches  were  festooned  with  the  droop- 
ing Spanish  moss.  It  was  a  beautiful  spot.  The  bayou, 
wide,  and  sluggishly  flowing  in  a  curve  between  green 
banks,  was  behind.  On  the  left  the  San  Jacinto  River 
rippled  past  the  bayou's  mouth,  and  widened  into  San 
Jacinto  Bay,  bordered  by  salty  marshes.  On  the  right, 
distant  about  six  miles,  Vince's  Bayou  extended  down  to 
Vince's  Bridge  in  the  southwest,  at  the  Harrisburg  road. 
Before,  a  rolling  prairie  stretched  two  miles  to  the  swamps 
of  the  inward  curving  bay.  A  timbered  rise  jutted  out 
before  the  camp;  and  several  hundred  yards  out  on  the 
prairie,  were  two  timber  "  islands,"  or  motts ;  one  in  front 
of  the  camp,  the  other  to  the  left. 

The  general  lost  no  time  in  getting  ready  for  Santa 
Anna,  who  could  not  be  more  than  a  couple  of  miles  dis- 
tant. He  planted  the  Twin  Sisters  in  the  edge  of  the 
trees  on  the  little  rise.  Colonel  John  Neill  commanded 

278 


FINDING  SANTA  ANNA 

the  battery.  Two  hundred  infantry,  including  Leo's 
company,  armed  with  muskets  and  commanded  by  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Millard  of  the  Texas  Regulars,  were  sta- 
tioned behind  the  cannon.  Sion  and  the  other  riflemen 
of  the  First  Volunteers  under  Colonel  Edward  Burleson 
were  placed  on  the  right  wing,  the  Second  Volunteers 
under  Colonel  Sidney  Sherman  on  the  left  wing.  The 
cavalry  were  back  of  the  Millard  musketeers  or  regulars. 
The  gold  and  white  flag,  surmounted  by  the  glove  of 
Colonel  Sherman's  bride,  floated  over  the  centre. 

Now  it  was  noon. 

"  I  reckon  if  nobody's  coming  we  might  as  well  eat," 
quoth  Jim,  while  for  a  brief  space  the  army  waited,  and 
peered  across  the  prairie  beyond  the  timber.  "  What  do 
we  call  it,  anyway?  Last  night's  supper?  We've  got 
three  meals  due  us.  De  Zavala  ought  to  invite  us  all  over 
to  his  house  for  a  snack," 

De  Zavala  the  patriot  did  not  quite  do  this ;  but,  as  the 
prairie  remained  apparently  peaceful,  presently  orders 
were  issued  for  the  men  to  go  ahead  with  their  three 
meals  in  one.  Fires  were  lighted,  beef  was  toasted  once 
more — when  on  a  sudden  back  through  the  high  grass 
along  the  timber  came  galloping  once  more  the  Deaf 
Smith  Spies.  They  had  sighted  the  Mexican  army  ad- 
vancing. The  camp  left  its  beef  and  seized  its  arms. 

"  Seems  as  if  we  didn't  get  time  for  anything  any 
more,"  complained  Ernest,  as  he  and  Jim  ran  for  their 
saddles.  "  It's  just  up  and  down,  up  and  down." 

"  That's  right,"  concurred  Jim.  "  We've  been  want- 
ing to  fight,  and  now  we  have  to  fight  even  to  eat !  " 


XX 

"WILL  YOU  COME  TO  THE  BOWER?" 

ALMOST  an  hour  passed,  with  the  Texan  army  waiting 
and  ready,  and  the  gold-fringed  flag  lazily  flapping  in  the 
sea  breeze. 

"  There  they  come,"  announced  a  man  sitting  his  horse 
at  Ernest's  left.  "  If  we  don't  lick  'em  Peggy  McCormick 
will.  She  lives  yonder  on  the  bay  and  owns  a  square 
league  of  this  prairie.  They're  treading  down  her  grass." 

It  was  two  o'clock.  The  Mexican  army  were  in  sight 
at  last,  advancing  from  the  left,  along  the  marsh  of  the 
bay.  Their  colors  flew,  bayonets  and  scabbards  occasion- 
ally glistened,  the  officers'  trappings  sparkled.  Infantry 
and  cavalry  they  were — yes,  and  artillery,  for  there  was  a 
cannon  drawn  by  mules. 

On  they  marched,  steadily — and  their  drums  were 
heard  beating  in  cadence.  They  made  a  compact  mass, 
as  if  they  did  not  intend  to  stop  but  to  proceed  right  ahead 
to  the  ferry  crossing. 

Ernest's  heart  thumped  rapidly.  No  orders  issued 
from  the  general,  who  was  composedly  standing  with 
Colonel  Hockley  and  Colonel  Rusk  and  others  of  his  staff, 
between  the  Twin  Sisters  battery  and  the  Colonel  Burleson 
regiment,  and  watching  the  Mexican  advance. 

"  By  cracky,  they'll  have  to  fight  or  swim — or  do 
both !  "  exclaimed  Jim.  "  What  are  we  here  for,  anyway, 
do  they  think?" 

At  this  moment  a  bugle  call  shrilled  gaily  from  the 
Mexican  ranks.  Out  galloped  the  artillery  mules,  drag- 
ging the  one  cannon  to  the  furthest  of  the  timber  islands, 
opposite  the  Millard  infantry.  It  was  a  challenge !  From 
the  trees  puffed  a  cloud  of  smoke,  and  accompanying 
the  heavy  report,  in  among  the  live-oak  branches  along 
the  bayou  rattled  a  storm  of  grape-shot. 

280 


"WILL  YOU  COME  TO  THE  BOWER?" 

But  the  Twin  Sisters  were  answering.  How  Colonel 
Neill  and  his  artillerymen  hustled ! 

"  Lie  down,  men !  Lie  down !  "  shouted  the  regular  and 
riflemen  officers.  The  cavalry,  well  back  in  the  shelter 
of  the  festooned  live-oaks,  were  safe.  General  Houston 
still  stood  erect.  The  Twin  Sisters  and  the  Mexican 
piece  were  booming  back  and  forth. 

Again  sounded  the  bugle,  and  again.  The  Mexican 
infantry  deployed  a  long  line,  and  ran  forward  through 
the  grass,  firing — halting,  firing,  loading  and  running 
again,  making  for  Colonel  Burleson's  regiment.  The 
Twin  Sisters  were  turned  on  them — the  regiment  began 
to  fire,  "  Crack !  Crackity  crack !  Crack-crack-crack !  "— 
and  the  Mexican  soldiers  scurried  back. 

"Neill'shit!  Look  at  him!"  cried  Jim.    "Thunder!" 

Colonel  Neill  was  staggering;  down  he  sank.  A 
grape-shot  had  struck  him  in  the  thigh.  But  the  Mexican 
troops  were  charging.  They  swept  out  gallantly,  along 
the  front  of  Colonel  Sherman's  regiment,  and  entered 
some  timber  curving  to  the  right. 

The  Mexican  skirmish  line  had  retired,  though.  How 
the  Burleson  men  yelled! 

Colonel  Sherman  spurred  to  the  general.  He  talked 
a  few  moments,  and  back  he  galloped  to  the  cavalry. 

"  Forward,  cavalry ! "  he  shouted.  "  Follow  me. 
Let's  drive  those  vaqueros  [cowherds]  out  of  that  timber." 

Around  to  the  right  he  dashed,  and  glad  of  the  chance 
the  cavalry  pressed  after  him — Ernest  bending  low  on 
Duke's  neck,  to  avoid  the  moss  and  branches,  and  Jim 
keeping  with  him,  stride  for  stride.  But  the  Mexican 
troops  were  scarcely  sighted.  Mexican  sharpshooters 
were  there,  though,  among  the  trees,  and  without  any 
fight  the  cavalry  must  return  again  before  being  cut  off. 
Nobody  was  hurt. 

The  army  were  cheering.  All  the  Mexicans  had 
retired ;  all  but  the  artillery  and  cavalry  were  marching 
back,  toward  the  mouth  of  the  San  Jacinto ;  the  field-piece 

281 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

had  been  withdrawn  further  into  the  timber  island.  The 
Twin  Sisters  were  peppering  the  island,  and  the  rear  of 
the  Mexican  army,  but  it  was  rather  blind  shooting. 

Having  arrived  at  the  marshy  timber  stretch  south- 
ward against  the  San  Jacinto  bay,  the  Mexican  army 
halted,  and  appeared  to  be  making  camp  there,  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  away,  on  other  rising  ground. 

"  Our  turn  now !  "  shouted  a  score  of  voices,  along 
the  Texan  lines.  "  Let's  smoke  'em  out." 

Everybody,  except  the  general,  was  eager  to  charge, 
and  finish  the  battle  then  and  there.  Some  of  the  officers 
approached  the  general  and  asked  him  either  to  lead  out  or 
else  appoint  a  leader.  The  men  were  wild  to  avenge  the 
Alamo  and  Goliad.  They  did  not  mind  being  hungry, 
and  worn  with  the  forced  marches  by  day  and  by  night. 

"  Santa  Anna  first,  then  Cos !  "  was  the  cry. 

But  the  general  turned  a  deaf  ear.  To  the  officers  he 
shook  his  head  under  its  big  whitish  hat. 

"  No,  gentlemen ;  not  yet,"  he  opposed.  "  This  is 
not  the  moment.  The  loss  would  be  too  heavy.  I  intend 
to  conquer,  slay  and  put  to  flight  the  entire  Mexican 
army,  and  it  shall  not  cost  me  a  dozen  of  my  brave  men." 

"  That's  right,"  sung  out  a  private.  "  Make  it  an 
easy-going  fight,  general." 

The  cannon  piece  was  still  in  the  timber  island;  and 
Colonel  Sherman  begged  for  permission  to  go  out  and 
take  it,  with  cavalry.  The  general  finally  consented  that 
the  cavalry  should  reconnoitre  the  timber,  but  not  fight. 

However,  the  fiery  Colonel  Sherman  led  straight  to 
the  island  in  the  prairie.  Suddenly  the  Mexican  dragoons 
issued  into  the  prairie,  and  out  came  the  Mexican  sharp- 
shooters, too. 

"  Charge  those  dragoons,  boys ! "  ordered  Colonel 
Sherman.  "  Empty  their  saddles  for  them !  " 

"  It's  a  fight !  "  yelped  Jim,  gleefully,  as  the  column 
half  wheeled  and  in  company  front  charged  for  the 
dragoons, 

282 


"WILL  YOU  COME  TO  THE  BOWER?" 

Chief  Scout  Handy  was  here,  spurring  on  well  to  the 
front.  So  was  Mr.  Lamar.  He  had  borrowed  a  horse 
and  joined  for  the  fun  of  the  thing.  A  number  of  other 
riflemen  had  borrowed  horses  and  volunteered.  The 
dragoons  stood  their  ground.  Captain  Handy  fired ;  Jim 
fired ;  Ernest  fired.  All  the  men  fired,  and  dragoons  fell. 
The  dragoons  charged.  The  Texas  rifles  were  empty  and 
the  long  Kentucky  rifles  of  the  volunteer  horsemen  were 
hard  to  reload,  on  horseback.  The  Mexican  infantry 
were  double-quicking  forward,  and  shooting.  Alwyn 
Trask  was  knocked  from  his  saddle  with  a  broken  thigh ; 
Woodliffe  was  wounded;  Walter  Lane  was  cut  off  and 
almost  surrounded — he  was  gone — no — see  Lamar — see 
Lamar !  He  has  sped  for  Lane,  shoots  a  Mexican  foot- 
soldier  dead,  rides  right  over  a  second,  reaches  Lane's 
side,  wrests  the  gun  from  the  hand  of  another  Mexican, 
and  with  Lane  unharmed  gallops  back  to  the  troop ! 

Hurrah!  But  there  are  too  many  Mexican  soldiers. 
Isn't  the  general  sending  reinforcements  ?  No. 

"  Back  to  the  camp,  boys,"  shouted  Colonel  Sherman  ; 
and  just  in  nick  of  time  they  skirted  the  timber  island 
and  cleared  the  fast  approaching  Mexicans. 

General  Houston  was  furious.  He  asserted  that 
Colonel  Sherman  had  tried  to  bring  on  a  fight,  against 
orders.  Colonel  Sherman  was  angry,  also.  He  claimed 
that  the  general  had  left  him  out  there  in  danger  of  being 
cut  off. 

"  That  Lamar  sure  can  ride,  though,  can't  he ! "  de- 
clared Jim.  "  He's  afraid  of  nothing,  that  man !  " 

"  We  lost  two  good  men,  just  the  same,"  replied  Ernest. 
"  Trask  will  die,  the  doctor  says ;  and  Woodliffe  can't 
fight  any  more." 

This  night  the  camp  fires  of  the  two  armies  twinkled 
at  each  other  in  the  low  mist  across  the  dip  of  prairie. 
General  Houston  posted  double  pickets,  beyond  the  timber 
of  the  bayou,  to  guard  against  any  surprise. 

After  a  good  supper — the  first  square  meal  in  thirty- 
283 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

six  hours — there  was  a  short  interval  of  liberty.  Sion 
and  Leo  strolled  over  to  the  cavalry.  The  four  comrades 
had  not  met  for  several  days. 

"  Hello,"  greeted  Sion.  "  Say— why  didn't  we  fight 
to  a  finish  to-day?  Those  Mexicans  are  fortifying.  From 
our  end  of  the  line  you  can  see  breastworks  going  up." 

"  Yes ;  and  to-morrow  Cos  is  liable  to  get  here,"  added 
Leo.  "  To-day  we're  about  even  match." 

He  and  Sion  were  thin  and  ragged,  but  still  game. 

"  I  don't  know,"  retorted  Ernest,  rather  irritated,  for 
men  were  putting  the  same  question,  one  to  another,  and 
again  the  army  were  indignant  with  General  Houston. 
"  I  suppose  he  wants  to  rest  us  up." 

"  Shucks !  I'm  never  too  tired  out  to  fight  a  Santa 
Anna  Mexican,"  proclaimed  Sion.  "  That  was  a  toler'bly 
smart  march  he  put  us  through,  anyway.  And  you  fellows 
had  a  nice  little  scrimmage,  while  it  lasted." 

"  It'd  have  lasted  longer  if  some  of  you  other  fellows 
had  come  out  and  backed  us  up,"  accused  Jim.  "  Then 
we  could  have  gone  on  and  taken  Santa  Anna  and  his 
whole  bunch — just  like  Sherman  intended." 

"  How  could  we  go  out  and  back  you  up,  when  we 
didn't  have  orders  ?  "  answered  Leo.  "  One  thing's  sure, 
though:  we  don't  retreat  any  more.  If  Houston  wants 
to  retreat,  he'll  go  alone.  We've  got  Santa  Anna  pocketed 
and  we're  going  to  put  our  hands  on  him  while  we  can." 

But  Ernest  knew  that  General  Houston  had  no  notion 
of  retreating. 

"  Young  de  Zavala's  come  into  camp,"  remarked  Leo>» 
as  if  to  end  the  discussion.  "  The  colonel's  boy.  Have 
you  seen  him  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Jim.     "  What's  his  kind  ?  " 

"He's  all  right,"  assured  Sion.  "  Smart  little  lad. 
He  says  he  could  see  the  battle  from  the  house,  but  he 
wants  to  get  a  little  closer.  Brought  his  gun  and  fixin's, 
and  thinks  maybe  he'll  shoot  Santa  Anna — if  Sam 
Houston  lets  us  get  close  enough !  " 

284 


"WILL  YOU  COME  TO  THE  BOWER?" 

"  You  wait  till  to-morrow.     We'll  all  be  close  enough," 

prophesied  Ernest. 

"  Listen  to  that  flute,"  bade  Jim.    "  Same  old  tune." 
The  flute  was  piping,  and  some  of  the  men  joined  with 

tenor  voices. 

Will  you  come  to  the  bow'r  I  have  shaded  for  you? 
Your  bed  shall  be  roses  bespangled  with  dew. 

Will  you,  will  you,  will  you,  will  you, 

Come  to  the  bow'r? 

The  song  drifted  sweetly  through  the  great  oaks  and 
their  drooping  mosses. 

"  Special  invitation  to  General  Antonio  Lopez  de  Santa 
Anna,"  quoth  Leo.  "Well,  think  I'll  go  to  bed.  We 
musketeers  have  orders  to  turn  in  early.  I'll  see  you 
to-morrow,  after  we-all  finish  our  easy-going  fight." 

"  Good-night." 

Sion  and  Leo  left.  The  flute  ceased,  and  the  song 
ceased,  and  everybody  went  to  bed.  The  companies  slept 
in  ranks,  on  their  arms,  ready  for  any  sudden  call.  As 
Ernest,  rolled  in  his  blanket,  was  about  to  close  his  eyes, 
a  large  figure,  blanket-draped,  moved  past,  in  the  gloom 
of  the  trees.  He  recognized  it  at  once.  It  was  the 
general,  alone,  exploring  around  as  if  to  see  that  his  army 
were  safely  tucked  in  bed.  Current  opinion  had  it  that 
the  general  himself  never  went  to  bed  until  about  four 
in  the  morning — when  he  went  to  bed  at  all ;  and  between 
drum-taps  and  breakfast  usually  slept  about  an  hour  while 
the  men  were  being  prepared  for  the  day's  duties.  So 
now  here  he  was,  inspecting  his  weary,  resting  soldiers, 
and  perhaps  thinking  upon  to-morrow's  battle.  Big  and 
silent  and  broody,  he  was  rather  a  comforting  sight. 

Strangely  enough,  almost  everybody  slept  late,  this 
morning  of  April  21 ;  that  proved  how  tired  the  army  really 
were.  General  Houston  did  not  appear  until  after  the 
sun  had  risen.  He  had  again  used  the  coil  of  cannon 
rope  for  a  pillow.  He  looked  happy  and  confident  for  the 

385 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

first  time  in  a  long  while.  The  report  came  from  his  staff 
that  on  opening  his  eyes  to  the  sunshine  he  had  sprung 
up  alertly  with  the  words : 

"  The  sun  of  Austerlitz  has  risen  again !  " 

"  Now,  what  did  he  mean  by  that  ?  "  demanded  Jim. 

"  I  don't  know,"  confessed  Ernest. 

"  Austerlitz  was  a  big  battle  won  by  Napoleon,  in 
Europe,"  said  Mr.  Lamar,  overhearing.  "  Napoleon 
thought  that  the  sunshine  brought  him  good  luck  for  the 
day." 

All  eyes  were  searching  the  Mexican  camp.  Santa 
Anna  had  completed  his  fortifications,  by  extending  a  low 
breastwork,  broken  in  the  middle,  from  the  timber  on  his 
right  into  the  prairie  on  his  left,  along  the  crest  of  a  gentle 
slope.  Spy-glasses  showed  the  field-piece  in  the  break. 

No  order  to  advance  to  the  attack  was  given,  and, 
waiting,  the  men  began  to  growl  and  murmur  again. 
Little  indignation  meetings  were  held.  Rumor  claimed 
that  a  floating  bridge  was  to  be  built,  over  the  bayou,  to 
be  used  in  a  retreat.  Then  there  was  the  report  that  the 
general  had  discussed  tearing  down  the  de  Zavala  house, 
for  bridge  timber,  and  had  decided  against  it. 

About  nine  o'clock  the  Deaf  Smith  Spies,  who  were 
out  reconnoitring,  returned  in  haste.  Deaf  Smith  said, 
in  passing,  from  his  saddle :  "The  enemy  is  increasing." 

Presently  a  file  of  pack  mules,  escorted  by  soldiers, 
were  seen  crossing  the  prairie  to  the  south,  as  if  they  had 
come  from  Vince's  bridge.  They  disappeared  around  a 
swell  in  the  middle  of  the  prairie. 

"  There's  Cos !  "  exclaimed  Jim.  "  He's  joining  Santa 
Anna!" 

"  We  ought  to  have  cut  down  Vince's  bridge,"  spoke 
Ernest,  aghast,  wondering  why  the  general  hadn't  ordered 
so. 

But  the  general  now  rode  along  the  front,  saying, 
loudly : 

"  Those  are  not  additional  troops.  It  is  a  ruse,  men. 
286 


"WILL  YOU  COME  TO  THE  BOWER?*' 

Santa  Anna  is  simply  marching  a  detachment  around  the 
hill,  to  deceive  us." 

However,  Deaf  Smith  and  a  small  party  went  galloping 
away,  again,  to  the  west,  as  if  to  investigate;  and  from 
the  Mexican  army  sounded  a  tremendous  cheering  and 
rolling  of  drums. 

While  Deaf  Smith  was  gone,  Colonel  Wharton  walked 
among  the  lines.  He  clapped  his  hands  briskly,  saying, 
from  group  to  group : 

"  Boys,  there  is  no  other  word  to-day  but  fight,  fight ! 
Now  is  the  time !  " 

That  was  encouraging.  Still  the  morning  wore  away 
without  orders.  It  was  hard  waiting.  Some  of  the  men 
formed  a  parade,  inviting  the  general  to  act.  That  did 
no  good. 

About  eleven  o'clock  a  council  of  war  was  held. 
General  Houston  sat  on  the  ground  under  a  live-oak,  and 
his  field  officers  gathered  around  him.  After  the  council 
was  over  Mr.  Lamar  talked  with  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Bennet,  and  returning  to  the  cavalry  reported  that  the 
Deaf  Smith  Spies  had  reconnoitred  the  last  camp  of  the 
mule  and  soldier  column  which  had  been  seen,  and  had 
found  "  sign  "  of  500  men — Mexicans.  So  the  Cos  rein- 
forcements they  were.  Then  General  Houston  had  called 
the  council  of  war,  and  put  the  question  to  vote :  "  Shall 
we  attack  the  enemy  in  his  position,  or  await  an  attack 
from  him  in  ours  ?  " 

Colonels  Burleson  and  Sherman,  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonels  Millard  and  Alex.  Somervell,  and  Secretary 
Rusk  voted  to  wait  an  attack.  Colonel  Rusk  declared: 

"  To  attack  veteran  troops  with  raw  militia  is  a  thing 
unheard  of ;  to  charge  the  enemy  without  bayonets,  in  an 
open  prairie,  has  never  been  known.  Our  situation  is 
strong ;  in  it  we  can  whip  all  Mexico." 

Only  the  two  juniors,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bennet  and 
Major  Wells,  had  voted  to  go  forward. 

"  I  didn't  think  that  of  Burleson  and  Sherman  and 
287 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Rusk    and    Somervell,"    exclaimed    Jim.     "  Did    you  ? 
They've  been  wanting  to  fight,  all  the  time." 

"  Look  at  the  general,"  bade  Ernest.    "  What's  up?  " 

For  Deaf  Smith  and  Moses  Lapham,  another  scout, 
were  sitting  their  saddles,  each  with  an  ax  in  hand,  and 
listening  to  the  general.  Deaf  Smith  held  his  palm  be- 
hind his  ear,  the  better  to  catch  the  words.  He  nodded, 
understandingly,  and  wheeled  his  horse. 

"  Fly  back  like  eagles,"  directed  the  general,  "  or  that 
beautiful  prairie  grass  will  be  crimsoned  before  your 
return." 

Deaf  Smith's  leathery  face  broke  into  a  wrinkled  smile. 

"  Looks  a  good  deal  like  a  fight,  general,"  he  called, 
over  his  shoulder. 

Out  he  and  Moses  Lapham  galloped,  for  the  west, 
followed  by  four  other  scouts. 

"  I  know !  "  blurted  Jim.  "  They're  going  to  cut  down 
Vince's  Bridge  and  pocket  Santa  Anna  and  Cos  complete !" 

"  And  stop  any  more  reinforcements,"  added  Ernest. 

"  Santa  Anna's  got  near  twelve  hundred  men,  already, 
answered  Jim.  "  But  now  we'll  all  be  in  here  together. 
It'll  be  a  fight  to  a  finish.  Here  comes  the  general." 

General  Houston,  in  his  whitish  hat,  his  ragged  stained 
black  coat  and  snuff-colored  trousers,  cowhide  boots  and 
sword  dangling  in  its  rusted  scabbard  from  his  thong 
belt,  was  striding  from  cook  fire  to  cook  fire,  among  the 
messes. 

"  Do  you  want  to  fight,  men  ?  "  he  was  inquiring,  right 
and  left.  "  Shall  we  fight,  or  wait  ?  I  know  the  opinion 
of  the  officers ;  but  what  do  you  say  ?  " 

Shrill  cheers  and  hoarse  shouts  volleyed  at  him.  Im- 
pulsive hands  slapped  him  on  the  shoulder. 

"Fight!    Fight!" 

"Hurrah!" 

"  Lead  us  out,  general !  " 

Jim  and  Ernest  joined  in  the  uproar.  The  general 
was  now  smiling  grimly. 

288 


"WILL  YOU  COME  TO  THE  BOWER?** 

"  All  right,"  he  announced,  repeatedly.  "  Very  well. 
Get  your  dinners  and  I  will  lead  you  into  the  fight,  and  if 
you  whip  them  every  one  of  you  shall  be  a  captain." 

"  Golly !  "  grinned  Jim.  "  I  can  hear  Sion  yell  clear 
here.  See  those  fellows  yonder  cutting  capers,  though !  " 

"  Mr.  Lamar's  been  promoted  colonel ! "  said  Ernest, 
hearing  a  chance  remark.  "  For  what  he  did  yesterday ! 
He's  to  lead  us! " 

"  He's  some  Napoleon  himself,  for  this  Austerlitz," 
babbled  Jim,  joyously.  "  His  middle  name's  Bonaparte." 

Now  all  was  elation  and  excitement,  but  dinner  was 
eaten  with  a  good  appetite.  The  general  seemed  to  be  in 
no  hurry.  After  dinner,  time  was  given  for  the  men  to 
inspect  their  rifles  and  muskets. 

"  How  many  men  have  we,  anyhow  ?  "  queried  a  soldier 
in  Ernest's  squad. 

"  Seven  hundred  eighty-three,  by  last  count." 

"  That  makes  less  than  two  to  one  against  us." 

"  No  odds  at  all." 

The  army  were  ready.  Word  passed  that  the  general 
was  thinking  of  postponing  the  attack  until  daybreak 
to-morrow.  The  men  were  on  edge. 

"  Wonder  what  we  are  waiting  for  ?  "  asked  Jim. 

"  For  Deaf  Smith  maybe,"  hazarded  Ernest. 

"  Why  doesn't  he  come,  then  ?  He  had  to  go  only 
eight  miles." 

All  talk  was  nervous  and  disjointed.  The  Mexican 
camp  seemed  very  quiet;  not  a  movement  could  be  de- 
scribed in  the  portion  visible  around  the  timber  island  on 
the  left.  The  sun  had  long  crossed  the  zenith,  and  was 
declining  toward  the  west.  It  was  after  two  o'clock. 

The  general  had  been  in  consultation  with  his  field 
officers.  They  separated — Secretary  Rusk  nodding  as  if 
in  approval.  Orders  came  for  the  men  to  form  ranks. 
Colonel  Lamar  vaulted  into  his  saddle,  and  there  was  a 
rush  for  horses.  The  Twin  Sisters,  at  the  edge  of  the  tim- 

289 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

ber  on  the  high  tongue,  were  being  attached  to  their  teams 

The  lines  were  straightened  under  covert  of  the  oaks : 
the  cavalry,  westernmost,  first  on  the  right ;  next  Colonel 
Millard's  regular  infantry  with  their  muskets — and  Leo, 
next  the  Twin  Sisters,  a  little  in  advance;  next  Colonel 
Burleson's  First  Regiment  of  riflemen,  with  Sion  in  it; 
next,  on  the  extreme  left  end  of  the  line,  Colonel 
Sherman's  Second  Regiment  of  riflemen.  All  this  took 
considerable  time,  and  three  o'clock  had  passed. 

General  Houston  rode  in  the  rear  of  the  line  saying : 

"  Hold  your  fire,  men !  Hold  your  fire,  for  close 
quarters ! " 

An  aide  galloped  to  Colonel  Lamar.  Colonel  Lamar 
drew  his  sword  and  turned : 

"  Forward,  march !  "  he  shouted.  He  led  off,  to  the 
right,  at  an  amble,  to  circuit  between  the  two  timber 
islands.  The  flute,  in  the  Colonel  Burleson  regiment,  was 
playing  "  Will  You  Come  to  the  Bower?  "  and  the  drum 
was  softly  keeping  time. 

"We're  coming,  all  right,"  remarked  Jim,  to  Ernest. 

Ernest  glanced  back.  The  whole  Texas  line,  two  deep, 
was  advancing,  the  cannon  tugged  lustily  by  the  straining 
teams,  Colonel  Hockley  urging  with  his  sword.  General 
Houston  was  pressing  behind,  his  head  bare.  The  fifer 
was  tooting,  the  drummer  drumming.  Before,  on  the 
left  or  southeast,  the  Mexican  camp  seemed  all  unsus- 
pecting, and  the  breastworks  of  branches  and  baggage 
basked  in  the  warm  sunshine. 

"  Trot !  "  shouted  Colonel  Lamar.  The  little  squadron 
of  sixty  riders  rushed  on,  through  the  prairie,  the  grass 
brushing  their  stirrups.  Now  there  were  tokens  of  ex- 
citement in  the  Santa  Anna  camp.  Officers  and  men  were 
running  and  gesturing.  In  the  distance  their  faces  looked 
white  with  alarm,  where  the  sun  shone  full  upon  them. 

"  We're  surprising  'em !  "  gasped  Jim. 

As  the  cavalry,  beginning  to  loosen  bridle  reins  for 
swifter  pace,  preparing  to  charge,  Ernest  glimpsed,  with 

290 


BATTLE    GROUND    OF    SAX  JACINTO 

Texan  Charge:    —    —    —    —    — >- 


"WILL  YOU  COME  TO  THE  BOWER?" 

the  corner  of  his  eye,  a  speck  on  the  prairie  to  the  west- 
ward.    A  horseman. 

"  Gallop !  "  shouted  Colonel  Lamar,  raising  his  sword- 
blade.  The  horses  leaped  to  the  spur — and  at  that  instant 
Duke,  good  little  yellow  Duke,  plunged  head-first,  his  leg 
in  a  hole  amidst  the  grass.  Over  his  nose  dived  Ernest — 
lighting  sprawled  and  helpless.  His  rifle  flew  from  his 
grasp,  and  his  head  was  full  of  stars. 

For  a  moment  or  two  he  lay,  half  stunned.  Then  he 
struggled  to  his  feet,  and  gazed  about  him  dizzily.  The 
squadron  had  galloped  on  and  were  before.  Of  course 
they  would  not  stop.  Duke  had  attempted  to  follow,  and 
now  was  standing,  uneasily,  head  up,  snorting.  The  rifle 
was  buried  somewhere  in  the  grasses.  Ernest  took  hasty 
but  wavering  steps  to  look  for  it.  He  must  have  that  rifle, 
by  all  means.  His  head  still  swam  with  his  fall. 

But  see — here  was  the  Texan  line,  almost  parallel  with 
him.  How  rapidly  it  had  come.  The  men  were  beginning 
to  double-quick,  through  the  prairie  dip,  with  guns  trailed. 
Their  faces  stared  before,  hard-set  and  eager  under  their 
flaring  hat-brims.  They  had  deployed,  to  wider  intervals, 
so  that  the  men  of  the  rear  rank  should  have  space  through 
which  to  aim.  The  Twin  Sisters  were  in  the  advance — 
no,  they  had  halted,  were  whirling  around — the  gunners 
applied  match — Boom!  Boom! — and  the  canister  hissed 
for  the  Mexican  breastworks. 

General  Houston  was  still  behind  the  centre — he  was 
waving  his  old  whitish  hat  and  shouting,  as  if  still  bidding 
the  infantry  to  hold  their  fire. 

"  Hold  your  fire,  confound  you !  Hold  your  fire !  " 
he  roared. 

The  fluter  was  playing.  "  Will  You  Come  to  the 
Bower  ?  "  piped  the  notes,  as  waist  high  in  the  grass  the 
long  line  swept  on,  with  never  a  shout,  and  with  the  gold- 
fringed,  glove-capped  flag  of  the  Newport  Volunteers 
streaming  in  the  breeze.  The  Twin  Sisters  spoke  again, 
and  advanced,  their  horses  at  a  gallop. 

291 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

There  was  a  thud  of  hoofs  close  by  Ernest.  The  horse- 
man from  the  west  had  arrived.  He  was  Deaf  Smith. 
His  horse  was  lathered  with  sweat,  his  swarthy  face  was 
dripping,  he  was  blackened  and  muddy.  Past  Ernest  he 
sped,  struck  the  right  of  the  line,  flourishing  his  ax. 

"  Vince's  Bridge  is  down !  "  he  screamed.  "  Fight 
for  your  lives,  and  remember  the  Alamo ! " 

Along  the  line  he  raced,  reiterating1  his  message. 
General  Houston  had  spurred  through  the  gap  left  by  the 
artillery  and  was  to  the  front,  himself. 

"  Vince's  Bridge  is  down ! "  he  repeated  louder  than 
Deaf  Smith.  "Charge!  Charge!  Remember  the  Alamo !" 

A  blare  of  voices  which  seemed  to  rock  the  prairie 
answered  him. 

"  Remember  the  Alamo !    Remember  Goliad !  " 

The  piping  of  the  flute  and  the  booms  of  the  Twin 
Sisters  alike  were  drowned  by  that  tremendous  yell.  The 
line  broke  into  a  run.  It  was  now  not  100  yards  from  the 
Mexican  breastworks — General  Houston  leading  the  cen- 
tre. The  Twin  Sisters  could  not  fire  again,  for  the  gap 
had  closed  before  them,  as  the  Millard  musketeers  and  the 
Burleson  riflemen  joined  flanks. 

Bugles  had  sounded  from  the  Mexican  camp — all 
appeared  in  turmoil  there ;  but  suddenly  a  bloom  of  white 
smoke  enveloped  the  front  of  the  breastworks,  and  a 
volley  of  musketry  and  cannon  shot  crashed  through  the 
soft  air.  Bullets  whined  by,  overhead.  Ernest's  eyes 
leaped  to  the  Texan  line  again.  It  had  not  fallen — it  was 
surging  on — the  general  sat  upright — but  his  horse  stag- 
gered—no, kept  its  feet.  Was  it  hit?  Why  didn't  the 
army  shoot  ?  Ah — the  line  had  abruptly  halted,  with  the 
Mexican  breastworks  only  sixty  yards  away;  the  rifles 
and  muskets  were  levelled,  and  veiled  in  smoke.  Back  to 
the  breastworks  reeled  the  first  Mexican  soldiery.  It 
looked  as  if  every  bullet  had  found  a  mark.  See!  The 
line  did  not  wait  even  to  reload.  It  raced  on,  shouting, 
"  Remember  the  Alamo !  Remember  Travis !  Remember 

292 


"WILL  YOU  COME  TO  THE  BOWER?" 

Fannin !  "  What  a  medley  of  savage  cheers !  The  men 
had  drawn  their  pistols ;  they  had  reversed  their  rifles,  to 
club  with  them.  General  Houston's  horse  was  swallowed 
up — maybe  it  was  down — as  right  against  the  breastworks 
burst  the  line — burst,  breaker-like,  into  a  high  spray  of 
pistol  and  musket  shots,  lunging  knives  and  bayonets,  rifle 
butts  rising  and  falling,  horses  leaping — and  poured  over ! 

Back  from  the  breastworks,  into  the  swamp  at  the 
rear,  streamed  rivulets  of  fleeing  men — the  Mexican 
soldiers.  But  the  Texans  were  after  them.  There  went 
Deaf  Smith,  on  foot,  alone — he  had  lost  his  horse,  but  no 
matter.  He  was  shooting  with  a  gun — shooting  at  the 
Mexicans.  Some  of  the  Mexicans  were  in  the  swamp 
to  their  knees.  The  officers'  horses  had  bogged.  From 
the  timber  at  the  east  end  of  the  breastworks  scampered 
the  Mexicans  posted  there,  with  Colonel  Sherman's  rifle- 
men pursuing  furiously.  A  Mexican  officer  remained 
standing  on  the  ammunition  boxes  behind  the  field  piece. 
He  shouted  in  vain  to  his  artillerymen.  He  folded  his 
arms  defiantly ;  then  he  got  down  and  slowly  walked  away, 
as  if  challenging  the  Texan  rifles.  He  was  a  brave  man, 
but  it  was  no  use.  He  fell,  crumpled. 

But  a  battalion  of  the  Mexicans  did  rally.  They 
levelled  their  bayonets  and  charged,  behind  the  breast- 
works ;  charged  so  violently  that  the  Texans  before  them 
wavered  and  recoiled.  Here  came  General  Houston — on 
his  horse,  waving  his  hat.  The  Texans  there  stiffened,  the 
guns  spoke  all  together — and  away  melted  the  Mexicans, 
into  dead,  wounded  and  fleeing. 

Somewhere  in  that  hurly-burly  were  Sion  and  Leo. 
There  did  not  seem  to  be  many  Texans  killed  yet.  But 
where  was  the  cavalry  ?  There  it  was,  chasing  the  Mexi- 
can horse  and  foot,  cutting  off  their  retreat  to  the  west, 
turning  them  back  toward  the  swamp  and  bay,  shooting 
them,  driving  them.  The  reports  of  guns  had  died  to 
irregular  spatters ;  the  fighting  appeared  to  be  a  constant 
series  of  hand-to-hand  combats — and  not  even  that.  Many 

293 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

of  the  Mexican  soldiers  were  kneeling,  holding  up  their 
arms  for  mercy.  Henry  Karnes  was  spurring  hard  in 
pursuit  of  a  Mexican  officer  on  a  big  black  horse.  The 
officer  was  fleeing  westward,  across  the  prairie.  Would 
Henry  catch  him  and  kill  him?  Were  all  the  Mexicans 
to  be  killed? 

Ernest  sickened  and  tried  to  turn  away  from  the  sights. 
At  that  moment  he  heard  a  heavy  panting,  and  a  rustling 
in  the  long  grass.  Down  he  instantly  sank ;  his  eyes  fell 
at  last  on  his  little  rifle,  and  reaching  out  he  grabbed  it. 

The  rustling  and  the  panting  rapidly  came  nearer — and 
a  black  head  and  swarthy  face  appeared,  over  the  grass 
tops;  a  running  figure  in  a  blue  cotton  uniform  was 
breaking  a  way.  It  was  a  Mexican  soldier,  his  bared  hair 
dank  with  perspiration  and  dark  face  staring,  affrighted. 

Ernest  silently  crouched  low,  waiting;  and  as  the 
figure  was  about  to  pass,  up  he  sprang,  and  over  his 
levelled  rifle  bade,  as  sternly  as  he  could :  "  Halt !  " 

The  soldier  stopped  in  his  tracks — saw  the  rifle  muzzle, 
his  mouth,  open  with  exhaustion,  quivering  convulsively — 
and  down  he  dropped  on  his  knees. 

"  Me  no  Alamo !  Me  no  Alamo !  "  he  chattered,  hold- 
ing out  his  empty  hands  with  piteous  entreaty. 

He  was  perspiring  so  with  his  agony  of  fear,  he  was 
such  a  cheaply  clad,  miserable  refugee,  that  Ernest  was 
almost  ashamed  to  threaten  him.  Still,  he  must  not  be  let 
go,  to  fight  again,  maybe,  against  Texas  independence. 

"  I  won't  hurt  you,"  said  Ernest  gruffly,  "  Get  up." 
And  he  repeated,  in  Spanish :  "  Get  up.  Turn  around." 

With  shaking  knees  and  heaving  chest  the  soldier 
slowly  obeyed,  his  hands  still  over  his  head.  Now  what 
was  to  be  done  with  him  ?  March  him  to  the  camp  ?  But 
Duke  was  yet  to  be  caught,  and  as  like  as  not  the  prairie 
grass  was  full  of  these  fugitives,  some  with  their  guns. 

Then,  while  the  soldier  stood,  trembling  and  babbling, 
to  his  relief  Ernest  saw  Jim  coming  at  a  gallop. 


294 


XXI 

THE  NAPOLEON  OF  THE  WEST  SURRENDERS 

"  WHY  didn't  you  catch  your  horse  and  come  on  ?  " 
demanded  Jim,  hot  and  jubilant.  "  What  you  got  there? 
Another  hombre  [man]  ?  Are  you  hurt?  Seen  any  more 
Mexicans  in  the  grass?  Gosh,  didn't  we-all  whip  'em? 
That  wasn't  a  battle ;  it  was  a  massacre.  Wait  a  minute. 
Keep  your  bead  on  that  fellow  till  I  catch  your  pony." 

"  But  they  were  killing  them !  Our  soldiers  were  kill- 
ing them ! "  cried  Ernest,  half  in  a  sob,  his  cheek  still 
against  his  rifle  stock,  the  rifle  bead  wavering  against  the 
miserable  Mexican's  twitching  shoulders. 

Jim  sobered  as  he  rode  for  Duke. 

"  I  know.  It  was  awful.  The  general  or  anybody 
couldn't  hold  the  men  in  at  all.  They  were  crazy  mad. 
They  remembered  Travis  and  Fannin.  So  did  the  Mexi- 
cans. That  yelling  scared  'em  worse  than  the  guns  did. 
When  our  men  tore  into  'em  they  fell  down  on  their  knees 
and  said  '  Me  no  Alamo !  Me  no  Goliad ! '  but  that  didn't 
make  much  difference,  at  first.  Our  men  didn't  wait  to 
argue.  There  was  too  much  to  do.  But  they've  about 
quit,  now.  That  swamp's  just  choked  with  Mexicans 
and  horses,  where  they  tried  to  cross.  Here's  your  pony," 
and  having  easily  caught  Duke  he  led  him  back.  "  Take 
your  rope  and  put  it  on  your  hombre,  while  I  cover  him, 
and  we'll  take  him  in  between  us.  We  can't  stay  out  here. 
They're  done  fighting,  and  you've  struck  one  blow  for 
liberty,  anyhow,  even  if  you  missed  the  big  scrimmage." 

That  was  so.  And  Ernest  felt  satisfied  to  have  cap- 
tured an  enemy  soldier  instead  of  having  tried  to  kill  one. 
He  unfastened  the  hair  picket-rope  from  Duke's  saddle, 
and  approached  his  prisoner. 

"  Put  down  your  arms,"  he  ordered,  gruffly.  "  I  am 
going  to  tie  you." 

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WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

The  man  obeyed;  he  started  nervously  as  the  noose 
slipped  over  his  arms  and  around  his  cold  wet  waist. 
Ernest  drew  the  noose  tight  and  keeping  the  rope  taut, 
mounted  Duke.  "  March !  "  he  commanded. 

With  the  soldier  trotting  at  the  fore,  between  them, 
the  two  boys  jogged  for  the  battle-field. 

Yes,  the  fighting  was  about  over  with.  Riders  on 
their  own  or  on  Mexican  horses  were  ranging  the  prairie, 
heading  off  fugitives  and  turning  them  back.  In  the  tim- 
ber and  at  the  swamp  a  few  rifles  were  occasionally  crack- 
ing. On  a  timber  island  in  the  swamp,  a  considerable 
body  of  Mexican  infantry,  some  300  or  400,  had  rallied 
together,  and  were  cowering,  under  their  officers,  as  if  not 
knowing  exactly  what  to  do.  Behind  the  breastworks 
General  Houston  could  be  seen  riding  slowly  about,  ges- 
ticulating and  bidding  the  Texans  to  cease  shooting,  and 
indicating  where  prisoners  should  be  taken.  A  guard  was 
stationed  over  the  late  camp,  and  the  baggage  piled  there. 

"  The  whole  Mexican  army  were  having  their  siesta 
[mid-day  rest]  after  dinner,"  explained  Jim.  "  Officers 
were  asleep,  cavalry  horses  were  being  watered  bare- 
back, muskets  were  stacked,  and  all  the  soldiers  were 
either  lying  down  or  playing  cards.  They  never  knew  we 
were  coming  till  we  were  clear  out  on  the  prairie,  and  the 
Sherman  men  were  flanking  'em  in  that  timber,  on  their 
right.  We  didn't  do  at  all  what  they  expected  us  to  do. 
I  reckon  General  Houston  knew  what  he  was  about,  even 
when  he  let  Cos  come  in.  He  says  he  waited  to  make  one 
bite  of  the  cherry!  We  licked  'em  in  fifteen  minutes! 
They  didn't  have  time  to  reload  after  that  first  volley !  " 

"  Did  the  cavalry  do  much,  Jim?  " 

"  Naw,  except  to  chase  around.  We  were  sent  out 
to  make  a  feint  and  draw  attention  while  the  infantry 
came  on.  But  their  dragoons  didn't  stand.  I  popped 
once  or  twice,  but  don't  think  I  hit  anything.  I'm  no  good 
shooting  at  a  man's  back.  So  I  corralled  a  few  '  Me  no 
Alamo's  and  turned  'em  in.  All  Texans  looked  alike 

296 


THE  NAPOLEON  OF  THE  WEST  SURRENDERS 

to  those  Mexicans.     Then  I  came  out  after  you.     I  sure 
would  admire  to  have  captured  Santa  Anna,  though." 

"Isn't  he  there?" 

"  Uh,  uh ;  not,  the  last  time  I  heard.  He  and  Cos  are 
gone — vamoosed — skadoodled.  The  fellows  are  looking 
for  'em,  over  toward  Vince's  Bayou." 

When  they  arrived  (Ernest  with  his  soldier  prisoner 
in  leash),  the  field  behind  the  breastworks  was  a  scene 
of  wild  confusion;  of  huddling  Mexican  soldiers  and  of 
cheering,  grimy  Texans  almost  beside  themselves  with 
joy.  The  breastworks,  of  baggage  and  branches,  were 
battered  and  crimson,  and  the  ground  far  and  near,  and 
the  swamp,  were  not  pleasing  to  look  upon.  The  general 
had  fallen  from  his  horse — no,  his  horse  had  sunk  under 
him,  lifeless  from  several  bullets  received  in  the  charge ; 
and  he  himself  was  being  supported  by  Colonel  Hockley, 
his  boot  bloody.  He  was  wounded  in  the  ankle — ankle 
shattered,  they  said — by  the  volley  from  the  breastworks. 

Colonel  Wharton  and  other  officers  were  hurrying 
about,  restoring  order  among  the  elated  Texans.  The 
prisoners  were  rapidly  being  herded  together  where  the 
Mexican  camp  had  been,  near  the  timber.  Sion  and  Leo 
were  swaggering  around,  wearing  Mexican  sabers  and 
grenadier  shakoes  or  tall  caps.  They  seemed  to  be  as 
crazed  as  the  others.  But  their  sabers  and  shakoes  were 
wrested  from  them,  and  they  were  put  at  work  helping 
collect  the  plunder  and  pile  it  up.  Jim  and  Ernest,  having 
delivered  the  prisoner,  were  added  to  the  guard  over  the 
camp,  a  more  agreeable  task  than  searching  the  battlefield. 

The  principal  body  of  Mexicans  had  now  surrendered 
to  Colonel  Rusk.  The  sun  set  General  Houston  was  on 
another  horse,  and  shouting  the  order  for  the  men  to  fall 
in.  But  they  were  still  shaking  hands  and  capering  and 
cheering.  Three  times  he  shouted,  as  he  rode  among 
them ;  nobody  paid  attention,  though  companies  did  begin 
to  form.  So  he  gave  up,  starting  out,  with  Colonel  Hockley 
and  another  aide  or  two,  for  the  camp  at  Buffalo  Bayou. 

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WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  Men,  I  can  gain  victories  with  you,  but  confound 
your  manners !  "  he  rumbled,  as  he  rode  away. 

However,  this  set  the  pace,  and  the  men  prepared  to 
follow  him.  Colonel  Rusk  was  conducting  his  captives 
slowly  across  the  prairie.  Through  the  twilight  most  of 
the  horsemen  who  had  pursued  the  Mexican  remnants 
clear  to  Vince's  Bayou  had  come  in  again,  some  with 
prisoners.  Henry  Karnes  reported  that  the  officer  whom 
he  had  chased,  on  the  black  horse,  had  leaped,  horse  and 
all,  into  the  bayou  at  Vince's  Bridge,  and  had  escaped. 
He  might  have  been  Santa  Anna,  and  he  might  not.  At 
any  rate,  Santa  Anna  and  General  Cos  both  were  gone. 

It  had  been  a  great  victory.  As  General  Houston  had 
promised,  less  than  a  dozen  "  of  my  brave  men  "  was  the 
price ;  for  only  eight  Texans  were  killed,  and  twenty-three 
wounded.  But  630  Mexican  dead  were  counted,  on  the 
ground,  and  more  may  have  been  lost  in  the  grass  and 
timber,  and  swallowed  by  the  swamp.  There  were  208 
wounded,  and  several  hundred  prisoners ;  a  large  quantity 
of  muskets  and  pistols  and  sabers,  300  mules,  100  horses, 
tents,  bedding,  ammunition,  food,  clothing,  the  twelve- 
pound  cannon,  General  Santa  Anna's  silver-mounted  sad- 
dle, his  military  chest  containing  $12,000 ;  and  other  money 
besides.  Leo  picked  up  a  belt,  full  of  dollars,  that  had 
dropped  from  a  soldier,  and  he  added  it  to  the  common 
fund,  for  nobody  was  yet  permitted  to  keep  anything. 

The  Mexican  officer  who  had  stood  by  the  cannon  so 
long,  and  then  had  walked  away  so  defiantly,  was  General 
Castrillon,  a  brave  man.  Not  a  Texan  but  was  sorry  that 
he  was  counted  among  the  630. 

Now  the  Texan  army,  save  for  a  guard  left  at  the 
Mexican  camp,  took  their  prisoners  and  set  out  for  their 
own  camp  in  the  live-oaks  of  Buffalo  Bayou.  The  general 
had  ridden  weakly,  with  shattered  ankle  dangling,  and  tb^ 
advance  overtook  him.  There  was  no  order  about  this  re- 
turn, and  men,  passing  the  general,  slapped  him  on  well  leg 
or  wounded  leg,  it  didn't  matter  to  them  which,  asking: 

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THE  NAPOLEON  OF  THE  WEST  SURRENDERS 

"  Do  you  like  our  work  to-day,  general  ? " 

The  general  needs  must  wince  at  the  slaps,  but  he 
answered  good-naturedly : 

"  Boys,  you  have  covered  yourselves  with  glory,  and 
I  decree  to  you  the  spoils  of  victory.  I  wish  none  of  them. 
Valor  shall  be  rewarded.  I  only  claim  a  share  in  the 
honors  of  your  triumph." 

Then  on  reaching  camp  he  fainted.  Colonel  Hockley 
caught  him  from  his  horse  just  in  time,  and  laid  him  under 
the  big  live-oak  that  had  been  his  headquarters  before. 
His  boot  was  cut  from  his  swollen  foot,  and  Dr.  N.  B. 
Labadie,  the  surgeon,  dressed  the  wound,  which  looked 
to  be  a  pretty  bad  one.  A  heavy  musket  ball  had  passed 
clear  through,  just  above  the  ankle  joint. 

This  was  a  night  of  celebration.  The  Mexican  troops 
who  had  surrendered  in  a  body  were  brought  in  by  Colonel 
Rusk.  There  were  400  of  them,  in  command  of  General 
Juan  N.  Almonte.  This  made  over  700  prisoners !  Now 
very  few  of  the  Santa  Anna  column  were  unaccounted 
for.  By  the  close  of  the  next  day  only  forty,  of  the  1300, 
were  known  to  have  escaped. 

General  Almonte  was  familiar,  by  name  or  person,  to 
many  in  the  Texan  army.  He  had  once  taken  a  census 
of  Texas,  for  the  Mexican  government.  Ernest  had  seen 
him  at  Gonzales.  He  seemed  to  be  light-hearted,  for  a 
prisoner,  talked  in  good  English  with  officers  and  men, 
and  accepted  his  fortune  of  war. 

"  Nobody  but  Americans  would  have  thought  of  attack- 
ing in  the  afternoon,  during  the  siesta  period/'  he 
declared,  laughing.  "  Especially  after  we  received  rein- 
forcements. Had  you  come  yesterday,  or  in  the  morning, 
we  would  have  been  ready  for  you." 

After  supper  the  camp  fires  were  heaped  high  with 
wood  and  by  their  flames  the  army  held  a  regular  carnival. 
The  whiskered  men  donned  the  captured  pistols  and 
knives  and  uniforms,  and  put  gold  epauleta  on  the  very 
mules ;  they  chanced  and  pranced,  shouted  "  Indepen- 

299 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

dence!"  sang  "Will  You  Come  to  the  Bower?"  and 
"  Texas  Shall  be  Free/'  and  pestered  the  Mexican  officers 
by  capering  up  to  them  and  demanding,  in  their  faces : 
"  Santa  Anna?  Santa  Anna?  You  Santa  Anna?"  until 
the  officers  grew  so  tired  of  it  that  they  tore  off  their 
shoulder-straps,  to  avoid  the  tormentors. 

Several  hundred  candles  from  the  Mexican  supplies 
were  distributed  and  lighted ;  torch-light  processions  were 
formed,  and  parades  given,  while  the  whoops  and  songs 
shook  the  mosses  hanging  from  the  oaks. 

Even  Dick  Carroll  (who  was  unharmed,  Ernest  soon 
had  learned)  cut  up  as  roundly  as  the  others. 

"  We  told  'em  about  the  general,  didn't  we !  "  he  hailed, 
as  arm  in  arm  with  a  squad  of  cronies  he  pranced  by. 

"  We  sure  did,"  responded  Ernest,  who,  with  Jim  and 
Leo  and  Sion,  was  waving  his  candle  and  prancing  also. 

"  Biggest    general    that    ever    lived/'    voiced    Jim. 

"  And  some  smart  man/'  added  Sion.  "  The  top  of 
the  heap.  It  took  nerve  to  manage  this  army  but  he  had  it." 

"  Reckon  we'll  make  him  president,  now,"  quoth  Leo. 
"  President  of  the  Republic  of  Texas.  He  wouldn't  let 
the  men  shoot  those  ravens ;  did  you  hear  ?  The  ravens 
were  flying  over  the  battle-field,  and  he  said  not  to  hurt 
'em.  They  were  his  bird  and  their  heads  were  pointing 
westward.  Maybe  he'll  be  president  of  Mexico,  too,  if 
we  go  on  and  take  it." 

"  The  Raven's  his  Indian  name,"  reminded  Ernest, 
staunchly.  "  Of  course  he  wouldn't  want  one  killed/' 

"  Well,  General  Sam  Houston,  hero  of  San  Jacinto,  is 
good  enough  name  for  me"  proclaimed  Sion.  "  And  any 
man  who  wears  that  name  can  take  me  through  the  mud 
wherever  he  pleases,  after  this." 

Yes,  in  the  frolicking  camp  among  the  illuminated  live- 
oaks  the  men  were  cheering  for  Sam  Houston  as  much  as 
they  were  for  "  Texas "  and  "  Independence."  They 
seemed  to  forget  they  had  complained  of  him  and  nagged 
him  and  called  him  a  coward  and  threatened  to  leave  him. 

300 


THE  NAPOLEON  OF  THE  WEST  SURRENDERS 

They  remembered  only  that  he  had  struck  at  the  right 
moment  and  had  led  them  to  a  glorious  victory. 

There  was  not  much  sleep  for  anybody  in  camp  this 
night — and  particularly  for  the  general,  who  tossed  on 
his  blanket,  suffering  from  his  wounded  ankle. 

But  Santa  Anna  was  one  of  the  first  thoughts  in  the 
morning.  To  make  the  victory  complete  he  must  be 
seized,  at  all  hazards.  Squads  were  dispatched  to  search 
the  grass  and  timber  for  him — and  for  General  Cos,  also. 
And  even  before  announcing  his  victory  to  the  govern- 
ment, the  general  sent  out  couriers  to  gladden  the  refugees 
with  the  great  news. 

With  several  men  of  the  Captain  Moseley  Baker  com- 
pany Sion  rode  gaily  forth  on  a  captured  Mexican  horse. 

"  General  Sam  says  if  we  find  a  Mexican  hombre  on  all 
fours  in  the  grass,  dressed  worse  than  a  private,  to  be 
sure  and  fetch  him  in,"  he  called,  as  he  passed. 

"  That  boy  certainly  has  luck.  He's  liable  to  capture 
Santa  Anna  all  by  himself,"  complained  Jim.  He  and 
Ernest  were  ordered  on  guard  detail  over  prisoners,  Leo 
having  been  sent  to  help  bury  the  bodies  on  the  battle-field. 

The  morning  wore  away.  By  noon  most  of  the  search- 
ing squads  had  returned.  A  few  more  prisoners  were 
brought  in,  but  none  was  General  Santa  Anna. 

Then  about  three  o'clock,  while  the  camp  was  taking 
its  siesta,  and  Ernest  and  Jim,  off  duty  with  Leo,  were 
idly  watching  him  plait  a  rope  from  white  and  black  horse- 
hair that  he  had  collected,  Leo  suddenly  pointed. 

"  There  come  Sion  and  the  Baker  squad.  With  another 
prisoner — isn't  it?  One  horse  is  carrying  double." 

"  Or  else  somebody's  been  hurt,  or  lost  his  mount," 
added  Jim. 

"  I  know  Sion's  long  pea-shooter,  anyhow,"  said  Leo. 

Yes,  Sion  it  was ;  and  Jim  Sylvester  and  Joel  Robinson, 
also  of  the  Captain  Baker  command.  Jim  had  a  man 
behind  his  saddle.  Sion  was  guarding  on  one  side,  and 
Joel  at  the  rear  on  the  other. 

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WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

A  prisoner  that  was,  then :  a  little  man,  with  black  side- 
whiskers,  in  private's  uniform  of  enamel  leather  flat  cap, 
blue  striped  cotton  blouse,  dirty  white  cotton  pants,  and 
heavy  coarse  socks.  He  looked  well  frightened. 

"  Shucks !     No  Santa  Anna,  again/'  deplored  Leo. 

"  Sion'll  have  some  big  story/'  chuckled  Ernest. 

But  as  the  three  horsemen  reached  the  guard  line 
before  the  camp,  a  stir  sounded  from  amidst  those  700 
prisoners  herded  by  the  picket  ropes  stretched  among  the 
oaks,  and  an  awed  murmur  and  clapping  of  hands  spread. 

"  El  general !  (the  general !)" 

"El  presidente!   (the  president!)" 

"Santa  Anna!" 

"That's  he !"  the  men  exclaimed,  springing  to  their  feet. 

The  captors  heard  the  explosive  words.  Jim  Sylvester, 
halted  by  the  officer  of  the  day,  Colonel  Forbes,  waved  his 
hand  triumphantly;  the  little  man  with  the  side- whiskers 
and  the  shabby  clothes  visibly  paled  and  shrank.  Sion 
spurred  eagerly  to  his  chums. 

"  That's  he !  "  asserted  Sion,  excited.  "  Hear  what 
those  other  hombres  say  ?  Watch  them  salute  him !  We 
didn't  know,  but  we  suspected  something.  He's  got  on 
pointed  shoes,  high-class,  and  under  his  coat's  a  mighty 
fine  white  shirt  with  gold  studs  in  it !  " 

"  Where'd  you  find  him,  Sion?  " 

"  Off  yonder  about  ten  miles,  across  Vince's  Bayou. 
Jim  and  Joel  and  I  were  scouting  along,  and  Jim  started 
to  stalk  a  deer  in  a  bunch ;  but  something  scared  'em  all 
off,  and  when  we  rode  over  to  see  the  why,  this  Sefior 
Whiskers  was  lying  there  in  the  brush,  trying  to  hide 
under  a  blanket.  He  said  he  was  only  a  private  soldier, 
and  we  began  to  walk  him  to  camp,  but  he  petered  out, 
so  Joel  took  him  up  for  a  piece,  and  then  Jim  took  him. 
The  rest  of  the  fellows  are  still  looking  for  Santa  Anna." 

"  The  general  told  you  you'd  find  him  on  all  fours, 
dressed  common." 

"  Come  on.  He's  going  to  talk  with  General  Houston. 
302 


THE  NAPOLEON  OF  THE  WEST  SURRENDERS 

Let's  hear,"  urged  Leo.  Off  from  his  horse  tumbled 
Sion,  and  away  they  trudged. 

Colonel  Forbes  was  conducting  the  captive  to  General 
Houston's  oak  tree  headquarters.  Already  a  curious, 
vengeful  crowd  were  gathering  there,  and  through  the 
camp  was  swelling  an  angry  cry  of  "  Shoot  him !  "  "  Hang 
him !  "  "  Remember  the  Alamo !  "  No  wonder  that  the 
little  man's  knees  trembled  as  he  walked.  How  could  he, 
who  had  hoisted  the  red  no-quarter  flag,  and  had  ordered 
more  than  400  Texas  soldiers  shot  down  when  defenseless, 
expect  anything  but  speedy  death? 

General  Houston  evidently  had  been  asleep,  at  last,  but 
was  awakened  by  Colonel  Hockley.  He  turned,  raising 
himself  on  one  elbow,  as  General  Santa  Anna  arrived  with 
Colonel  Forbes.  He  surveyed  Santa  Anna  silently. 

Halted,  at  the  general's  couch  in  the  centre  of  a  rapidly 
increasing  throng,  General  Santa  Anna  bowed,  with  his 
right  hand  on  his  heart  (Mexican  fashion),  and  said,  in 
quavering  Spanish : 

"  I  am  General  Antonio  Lopez  de  Santa  Anna,  presi- 
dent of  the  Mexican  republic,  and  I  claim  to  be  your 
prisoner  of  war." 

"  Sit  down,  sir,"  answered  General  Houston,  motion- 
ing to  an  ammunition  box.  "  Summon  General  Almonte," 
he  bade,  to  Colonel  Hockley.  "  I  need  an  interpreter." 

Santa  Anna  started  to  seat  himself,  with  an  appealing 
glance  around  the  scowling  circle — but  instead  took  an 
impulsive  step  aside,  and  smiled  invitingly.  Colonel  Rusk 
had  just  pressed  through,  with  young  de  Zavala,  son  of 
Don  Lorenzo  de  Zavala,  the  Texas  vice-president. 

"  Ah,  amigo  mio,  amigo  mio !  [my  friend,  my  friend !] " 
exclaimed  Santa  Anna.  "  The  son  of  my  early  friend !  " 
And  put  his  arms  about  young  de  Zavala's  shoulders. 

But  that  did  not  work ;  for  young  de  Zavala  released 
himself,  and  looked  the  general  in  the  face  without  a  smile. 

"  It  has  been  so,  sefior,"  he  replied,  clearly. 

General  Santa  Anna  sat  down  on  the  box,  as  if  much 
303 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

disappointed.     He  held  his  hands  against  his  sides,  and 
groaned  for  sympathy.     But  he  did  not  get  much. 

"  A  little  late,  wasn't  he !  "  whispered  Leo,  to  Ernest. 
"  After  he'd  put  a  price  on  de  Zavala's  head  and  driven 
him  and  his  family  out  of  Mexico !  " 

Colonel  Hockley  returned  with  General  Almonte.  The 
crowd  parted  for  their  passage  through.  General  Almonte 
saluted,  and  he  and  General  Santa  Anna  embraced  one 
another,  by  the  shoulders.  The  presence  of  a  friend 
appeared  to  encourage  Santa  Anna.  He  braced  up, 
smiled  upon  General  Houston,  and  began  to  talk. 

"  That  man  may  consider  himself  born  to  no  common 
destiny,  who  has  conquered  the  Napoleon  of  the  West," 
he  complimented — General  Almonte  translating  into 
English.  "  And  it  now  remains  for  him  to  be  generous 
to  the  vanquished." 

"  Will  you  listen  to  that !  "  gasped  Sion.  "  '  Napo- 
leon of  the  West ' !  Now  he  asks  us  to  be  '  generous  '  to 
him,  because  he's  only  murdered  a  few  hundred  of  us !  " 

"  You  should  have  remembered  that  at  the  Alamo, 
sir,"  was  responding  General  Houston. 

"  I  was  justified  there  by  the  customs  of  war,  general," 
answered  Santa  Anna.  "  Those  men  had  refused  to  sur- 
render, and  when  the  place  was  taken  by  storm  the  cus- 
toms of  war  authorized  that  they  be  killed." 

"  So  you  killed  'em !  "  rose  the  indignant  growl  from 
the  crowd.  "Bah!  You're  wuss'n  a  savage  Injun!" 

"  That  is  not  the  custom  among  civilized  nations, 
sir,"  accused  General  Houston.  "  It  is  not  the  custom  of 
humanity." 

"  I  was  acting  under  the  orders  of  my  government," 
retorted  Santa  Anna.  "  I  have  orders  in  my  possession 
commanding  me  so  to  act." 

"  Why,"  roared  the  general,  beginning  to  grow  angry, 
himself,  "you  are  the  government,  yourself.  You  are 
dictator,  and  a  dictator  has  no  superior  officers !  " 

304 


"WHY,"  ROARED  THE  GENERAL,  "YOU  ARE  T^IE  ^GOVERN VENT1, 
YOU  ARE  DICTATOR" 


THE  NAPOLEON  OF  THE  WEST  SUHRENDEBS 

That  was  a  corker,  and  a  hum  of  approval  permeated 
the  spectators  and  listeners.  Santa  Anna  heard,  and  paled. 

"  But  I  have  orders,  general,"  he  argued,  "  command- 
ing me  to  exterminate  every  man  found  in  arms  in  the 
province  of  Texas ;  to  treat  them  as  pirates.  They  have 
no  government  and  no  recognized  flag." 

This  was  almost  an  insult.  The  crowd  uttered  a 
furious  shout,  and  lifting  himself  further  on  his  elbow 
General  Houston  shook  his  finger  at  the  cowering  Santa 
Anna.  He  looked  like  a  lion.  His  eyes  glaring,  his  brow 
wet  with  sudden  perspiration,  he  tried  to  control  himself. 

"  Sir,  the  Texans  flatter  themselves  that  they  have  a 
government,  and  they  probably  will  be  able  to  support  a 
flag.  Now  if  you  feel  excused  for  your  conduct  at  San 
Antonio,  what  do  you  say  about  your  massacre  of  Colonel 
Fannin's  command,  at  Goliad  ?  They  had  surrendered,  on 
terms  offered  by  your  general.  And  then  they  were  shot, 
unarmed !  Helpless !  " 

•*•    "  Remember  the  Alamo !  Remember  Goliad !  "  shouted 
the  crowd,  surging  and  threatening. 

Santa  Anna  fairly  quailed.  He  laid  his  hand  on  his 
heart,  again,  and  declared  that  General  Urrea  had  not  told 
him  that  the  Fannin  men  had  surrendered.  He  said  that 
General  Urrea  should  be  punished.  And  all  that.  He 
seemed  about  to  faint,  and  asked  for  medicine. 

General  Almonte  here  struck  in,  on  his  own  account. 

"  By  the  way,  why  did  you  delay  so,  in  your  attack  on 
us  yesterday  ?  "  he  queried.  "  You  knew  that  we  would  be 
reinforced.  We  expected  your  attack  before  the  reinforce- 
ments came,  and  we  were  all  ready  for  you." 

"  I  knew  that,  sir,"  replied  General  Houston.  "  That 
was  just  the  reason  I  did  not  fight !  And  besides,  I  wished 
to  settle  the  matter  for  all  time.  There  was  no  use  in 
making  two  bites  at  one  cherry." 

"  You  were  a  long  time  getting  at  it.  Only  good  luck 
saved  you,"  asserted  General  Almonte,  rather  uncivilly. 

This  made  the  general  angry  again. 
305 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  As  for  you,  sir,"  he  returned,  "  you  came  far  to  give 
us  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  and  caused  the  sacrifice  of  the 
lives  of  a  great  many  brave  men/' 

General  Almonte  only  laughed. 

"  What  of  six  or  eight  hundred  men !  "  he  answered. 
"  You  lost  only  half  a  dozen,  yourself." 

"  Sir,"  rebuked  General  Houston,  "  we  evidently  esti- 
mate the  lives  of  men  somewhat  higher  than  you  do."  He 
struggled  to  sit  up.  "  You  talk  about  reinforcements !  It 
matters  not  how  many  reinforcements  you  might  have, 
sir ;  you  never  can  conquer  freemen."  With  that  he  pain- 
fully extracted  from  his  trousers  pocket  an  old  half- 
gnawed  ear  of  dried  corn.  "  There,  sir !  Do  you  ever 
expect  to  conquer  men  who  fight  for  freedom,  when  their 
general  himself  marches  four  days  with  one  ear  of  corn 
for  his  rations  ?  " 

That  capped  the  climax.  From  the  crowd  around  rang 
a  tremendous  cheer,  and  a  score  of  hands  were  extended. 

"  That's  right,  general !  Give  us  that  ear,  and  we'll 
divide  it  up  and  plant  it.  Houston  corn !  Houston  corn ! 
Hurrah !  We'll  call  it  '  Houston  corn  ' !  " 

This  pleased  the  general.  A  tender  smile  overspread 
his  haggard  face.  He  passed  forward  the  ear. 

"  Very  well,"  he  said.  "  Take  it,  if  you  want  it,  and 
divide  it  up  kernel  by  kernel,  and  every  man  plant  his 
kernel  at  home.  You  have  won  independence ;  now  see 
if  you  can't  be  as  good  farmers  as  you  were  soldiers.  But 
don't  call  it  '  Houston  corn '  ;  call  it  '  San  Jacinto  com/ 
so  that  it  will  remind  you  of  your  own  bravery." 

This  appeared  to  impress  General  Santa  Anna,  who 
had  recovered  when  Dr.  Labadie  had  given  him  some 
medicine.  He  remarked  afterward  to  General  Almonte 
that  now  he  understood  American  spirit ;  he  saw  by  the 
ear  of  corn  that  Americans  never  could  be  conquered. 
They  could  fight  too  well  on  too  little ! 


XXII 
PRESIDENT  HOUSTON  RESIGNS  HIS  SWORD 

GENERAL  SANTA  ANNA  presently  spoke  again.  He 
said  that  he  was  ready  to  discuss  upon  what  terms  he 
should  be  released.  General  Houston  replied  that  only  the 
government  of  the  Republic  of  Texas  could  decide  these 
matters. 

"  Where  is  the  government,  general  ?  "  inquired  Santa 
Anna. 

"  The  members,  sir,  will  be  sent  for,  by  the  messenger 
who  will  announce  to  them  the  triumph  of  the  Texas 
arms/'  reproved  General  Houston.  "  Meantime  I  require 
of  you  that  you  immediately  dispatch  an  order  to  your 
second  in  command,  General  Filisola,  that  he  and  General 
Gaona  shall  upon  receipt  of  it  retire  with  all  their  troops 
to  Bexar.  General  Urrea  also  shall  retire  with  his  com- 
mand to  Guadalupe  Victoria,  and  prisoners  are  to  be 
released/1 

This  was  delivered  in  such  a  tone  that  Santa  Anna 
accepted  the  pen  proffered  to  him,  and  on  a  pad  of  paper 
inscribed  the  orders.  Deaf  Smith  and  Henry  Karnes 
were  sent  with  them  to  General  Filisola,  back  on  the 
Brazos.  Santa  Anna  appeared  anxious  to  do  anything  to 
save  his  own  life. 

Pretty  well  exhausted  by  the  interview,  General 
Houston  directed  that  Santa  Anna  be  placed  in  the  tent 
which  belonged  to  him,  and  closely  guarded.  Scarcely 
was  he  being  led  away,  followed  by  black  looks  while  the 
crowd  slowly  dispersed,  when  another  scene  occurred. 

A  loud  voice,  rising  above  the  shouts  and  the  laughter 
of  the  camp  guard,  echoed  among  the  trees ;  and  a  large 
red-haired  woman,  in  flapping  sun-bonnet,  with  bare  feet 
striding  under  the  torn  hem  of  her  calico  dress,  came 

307 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

pushing  and  shoving  her  way,  straight  for  the  general's 
oak. 

"  I  want  Gin'ral  Houston !  "  she  proclaimed.  "  Where's 
the  gin'ral  ?  Show  him  to  me,  wance." 

"  That  ees  the  Senora  Peggy  McCormick,"  whispered 
young  de  Zavala,  who  had  joined  the  four  boys.  "  She 
leeve  here  on  Peggy  Bay." 

Ernest  leaped  in  front  of  her. 

"You  can't  see  the  general,"  he  informed.  "He's 
been  wounded." 

"  Aw,  out  of  the  way  wid  ye,"  ordered  Peggy  McCor- 
mick ;  and  Ernest  received  a  vigorous  push  that  sent  him 
whirling.  "  I've  no  time  for  boys.  Tis  the  gin'ral  I  want." 

The  men  were  whooping  and  laughing.  They  must 
have  pointed  out  to  her  the  general's  tree,  for  she  quickly 
arrived  there. 

"  Be  you  the  gin'ral  ?  "  she  demanded. 

"  Madam,  I  am  General  Sam  Houston,"  he  answered, 
very  gallantly.  "  You  will  pardon  my  not  rising.  What 
can  I  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  Take  your  men  off  me  league,"  stormed  the  red- 
haired  woman. 

"  Are  you  the  owner  of  this  land  hereabouts,  lady  ?  " 
queried  the  general. 

"  I  am.  I  own  it  all — three  square  miles.  Take  your 
men  off  me  league,  or  I'll  have  the  law  on  yez.  Yez  had  no 
permission  of  mine  to  fight  your  battle  on  my  league." 

"  But,  lady "  attempted  the  polite  general. 

Peggy  would  not  listen. 

"  Take  your  men  off  me  league  immejiately,  I  say." 

"  But,  lady,"  persisted  the  general,  "  to  remove  my 
army  at  this  moment  is  impossible.  We  will  try  to  do 
your  property  no  damage." 

"Yez  have  already  fought  wan  battle  here  and 
trampled  down  my  grass  and  broke  my  trees,"  stormed 
Peggy.  "Take  your  men  off  me  league." 

"  Madam,"  assured  the  general,  with  never  a  smile, 
308 


PRESIDENT  HOUSTON  RESIGNS  HIS  SWORD 

"  your  wishes  will  be  obeyed  at  the  earliest  possible 
moment.  Colonel  Forbes,"  he  directed,  "  will  you  see 
that  this  lady  is  furnished  a  proper  escort  to  her 
habitation/' 

Muttering  indignantly,  and  still  insisting  that  the  Texas 
army  be  "  taken  off  her  league,"  Peggy  was  conducted 
away  by  a  file  of  soldiers. 

"  She  came  out  with  a  broomstick,  during  the  battle," 
giggled  Sion,  "  and  she  started  in  to  whale  both  armies, 
for  '  fighting  on  me  league ' !  " 

The  laughter  at  the  courageous  Peggy  McCormick  soon 
died.  General  Santa  Anna  had  not  been  forgotten.  Most 
of  the  army  were  hot  with  the  determination  that  he  should 
be  executed.  There  were  men  who  threatened  that  if 
General  Houston  did  not  order  him  shot,  they  themselves 
would  shoot  him  at  their  first  chance.  He  was  kept  under 
close  guard,  at  his  large  tent  near  the  general's  head- 
quarters tree. 

"  The  Texas  government  will  make  the  biggest  kind  of 
a  mistake  if  it  decides  to  execute  Santa  Anna,"  asserted 
Dick  Carroll.  "  And  General  Houston  knows  it.  Not 
but  what  Santa  Anna  ought  to  pay  with  his  life,  if  that's 
ever  proper  punishment ;  but  as  long  as  we  hold  him,  the 
Mexican  people  will  agree  to  'most  anything  we  ask.  If 
we  kill  him,  that's  the  end.  There'll  be  another  dictator, 
and  more  war,  for  Mexico'll  have  nothing  to  lose  and 
everything  to  gain.  Besides,  then  they'll  go  ahead  with 
more  massacres.  Now  we  have  our  chance  to  keep  the 
balance  of  power ;  and  we  can  show  to  the  world  that  we 
can  take  prisoners,  and  not  murder  'em  the  way  the 
Mexicans  do." 

A  number  of  the  other  cooler  heads  agreed  with  Dick. 
To  Ernest  his  words  sounded  very  sensible. 

Captain  Robert  Calder  and  a  small  party  were  sent  by 
the  general  to  bear  the  news  of  the  victory  and  the  capture 
of  Santa  Anna  to  President  Burnet  and  cabinet,  at  Galves- 

309 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

ton  Island.  They  left  by  skiff,  to  descend  the  bayou  and 
the  bay. 

Jim  laughed. 

"  I  know  why  the  captain's  so  willing  to  row  a  boat," 
he  said.  "  He's  got  a  girl  down  on  the  island,  and  he's 
honing  to  see  her." 

Leo  also  set  out  on  a  borrowed  horse.  The  refugees 
who  had  fled  east  were  already  returning;  they  could  be 
seen  collecting  at  Lynchburg  and  crossing  the  San  Jacinto 
by  Lynch's  ferry.  Leo  had  learned  that  his  mother  and 
family  were  among  them;  so  no  wonder  that  away  he 
went,  in  haste. 

The  army  stayed  in  camp  on  the  bayou.  At  night  the 
wolves  could  be  heard  howling  on  the  battle-field.  More 
prisoners  were  brought  in  by  the  ranging  scouts,  who 
smoked  them  out  by  setting  fire  to  the  prairie.  On  April 
24/the  second  day  after  the  capture  of  Santa  Anna,  General 
Cos  was  found  wandering  in  the  bottoms  along  the  Brazos 
River.  When  he  was  turned  over  to  the  guard  at  the 
camp,  he  sank  down,  paralyzed  with  fear,  and  covered 
himself  head  and  all  with  a  blanket — which  trembled  so, 
that,  as  Sion  declared,  "  the  leaves  of  the  trees  rustled  " ! 

The  refugees  visited  the  battle-field  and  the  camp,  and 
there  were  cheers  renewed  and  many  reunions.  Leo 
brought  his  sister  in  to  see  Santa  Anna.  He  introduced 
the  three  boys  to  her.  All  the  refugees  of  the  Runaway 
Scrape  were  on  their  way  home  again,  and  the  ferry  at 
Lynchburg  was  busy  day  and  night. 

Although  General  Houston  was  unable  to  move,  he  took 
good  care  that  nobody  harmed  Santa  Anna — or  General 
Cos,  either,  who  had  broken  his  word  of  honor,  given  at 
Bejar  last  December,  that  he  would  not  again  oppose  the 
cause  of  liberty  in  Texas. 

May  i  President  Burnet  and  some  of  the  cabinet 
arrived  at  camp,  on  the  steamboat  Yellowstone.  The 
Yellowstone  showed  that  she,  too,  had  been  in  the  war. 
Her  single  smokestack  was  riddled  with  bullet-holes, 

310 


PRESIDENT  HOUSTON  RESIGNS  HIS  SWORD 

and  her  wood-work  was  gashed  and  splintered.  After  she 
had  ferried  the  army  across  the  Brazos  at  Groce's,  she 
had  taken  a.  load  of  refugees  down  the  Brazos  to  the  gulf. 
The  Mexicans  had  bombarded  her  from  the  banks,  and 
had  tried  to  catch  her  by  casting  reatas  [ropes]  at  her; 
but  she  got  through,  and  here  she  was,  again. 

The  first  thing  done  was  to  distribute  the  spoils  of 
battle  so  that  the  soldiers  might  be  paid  a  little  money. 
The  captured  property  was  sold,  here  and  there,  for 
$18,184.87.  Three  thousand  dollars  of  this  was  voted  to 
the  Texas  navy.  The  handsome  saddle  of  Santa  Anna 
was  presented  to  General  Houston  by  unanimous  voice. 
So  was  General  Almonte's  superb  black  horse — the  prize  of 
Henry  Karnes.  The  general  at  first  refused  to  accept  the 
horse,  and  insisted  that  it  be  sold  along  with  the  other 
property ;  but  the  army  sent  it  back  to  him. 

From  the  fund  raised,  every  soldier  received  $7.50. 

"  Shucks !  "  exclaimed  Jim  to  Ernest.  "  Did  we  lie  out 
in  the  mud  a  month  and  a  half  for  this  ?  " 

"  Well,  we  helped  make  Texas  free,"  reminded  Ernest. 

"  That's  right,"  Jim  agreed.  "  I  reckon  I'd  do  the 
same  over  again,  for  no  money  at  all." 

The  cabinet  discussed  a  long  time  with  General 
Houston  what  should  be  done  with  Santa  Anna.  The 
general  still  insisted  that  his  life  be  spared ;  most  of  the 
army  and  the  majority  of  the  cabinet  insisted  that  he  be 
executed.  However,  finally  the  general  won,  and  the 
cabinet  decided  to  spare  his  life  and  compel  him  to  sign 
a  treaty  guaranteeing  to  recognize  the  independent  Re- 
public of  Texas.  Colonel  Rusk,  the  secretary  of  war, 
already  had  drawn  up  an  outline  of  the  proposed  treaty, 
in  accordance  with  the  general's  suggestions. 

The  cabinet  made  ready  to  return  to  Galveston  Island, 
taking  Santa  Anna  and  other  captured  officers  with  them ; 
and  the  wound  of  General  Houston  was  so  serious,  by  this 
time,  that  he  was  ordered  by  the  surgeons  to  go  also. 

311 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

So  on  May  5  the  army  were  paraded  for  him.   He  could 
not  be  present,  but  the  adjutant  read  his  farewell  orders. 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  SAN  JACINTO,  May  5th,  1836. 
COMRADES:  Circumstances  connected  with  the  battle 
of  the  21  st  [of  April]  render  our  separation  for  the  pres- 
ent unavoidable.  I  need  not  express  to  you  the  many 
painful  sensations  which  that  necessity  inflicts  upon  me. 
I  am  solaced,  however,  by  the  hope  that  we  shall  soon  be 
reunited  in  the  great  cause  of  Liberty.  Brigadier-General 
Rusk  is  appointed  to  command  the  army  for  the  present. 
I  confide  in  his  valor,  his  patriotism,  his  wisdom.  His 
conduct  in  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto  was  sufficient  to 
ensure  your  confidence  and  regard. 

The  enemy,  though  retreating,  are  still  within  the 
limits  of  Texas ;  their  situation  being  known  to  you,  you 
cannot  be  taken  by  surprise.  Discipline  and  subordination 
will  render  you  invincible.  Your  valor  and  heroism  have 
proved  you  unrivalled.  Let  not  contempt  for  the  enemy 
throw  you  off  your  guard.  Vigilance  is  the  first  duty  of 
a  soldier,  and  glory  the  proudest  reward  of  his  toils. 

You  have  patiently  endured  privations,  hardships,  and 
difficulties,  unappalled ;  you  have  encountered  odds  of  two 
to  one  of  the  enemy  against  you,  and  borne  yourselves, 
in  the  onset  and  conflict  of  battle,  in  a  manner  unknown 
in  the  annals  of  modern  warfare.  While  an  enemy  to 
your  independence  remains  in  Texas,  the  work  is  incom- 
plete; but  when  liberty  is  firmly  established  by  your 
patience  and  your  valor,  it  will  be  fame  enough  to  say, 
"  I  was  a  member  of  the  army  of  San  Jacinto." 

In  taking  leave  of  my  brave  comrades  in  arms,  I 
cannot  suppress  the  expression  of  that  pride  which  I  so 
justly  feel  in  having  had  the  honor  to  command  them  in 
person,  nor  will  I  withhold  the  tribute  of  my  warmest 
admiration  and  gratitude  for  the  promptness  with  which 
my  orders  were  executed,  and  union  maintained  through 
the  army.  At  parting,  my  heart  embraces  you  with 
gratitude  and  affection. 

SAM  HOUSTON,  Commander-in-Chief. 

The  order  was  read  amidst  perfect  silence,  while  the 
army  leaned  on  their  muskets  and  rifles,  at  parade  rest, 

312 


PRESIDENT  HOUSTON  RESIGNS  HIS  SWORD 

and  the  cavalry  sat  their  horses  at  ease.  When  the  adju- 
tant concluded,  the  timber  and  prairie  rang  with  cheers  for 
Sam  Houston.  Through  all  their  impatience  on  the  march 
and  in  camp,  the  army  had  learned  to  love  him,  and  his 
noble  praise  struck  to  their  hearts.  Ernest  found  himself 
rather  weepy ;  but  when  he  saw  that  Jim  and  some  of  the 
men  were  wet  eyed,  he  was  not  ashamed. 

The  general  was  immediately  transferred  by  steamboat, 
with  the  cabinet  and  the  Mexican  officers,  to  Galveston 
Island ;  a  great  crowd  of  soldiers  and  other  people  gath- 
ered at  the  landing  to  see  them  off. 

From  Galveston  Island  the  general  was  taken  on  a 
steamboat  to  New  Orleans,  for  surgical  treatment.  His 
ankle  had  not  improved,  and  he  was  in  poor  shape.  The 
treaty  as  he  had  suggested  was  signed  by  Santa  Anna, 
May  14 >  at  Velasco  on  the  gulf  coast. 

As  president  of  Mexico,  Santa  Anna  promised  not  to 
oppose  the  independence  of  Texas;  hostilities  were  to 
cease ;  all  Mexican  troops  were  to  be  removed  from  Texas 
soil ;  any  supplies  taken  were  to  be  paid  for,  and  property 
already  taken  or  destroyed  was  to  be  paid  for,  also ;  prison- 
ers were  to  be  exchanged,  man  for  man ;  and  Santa  Anna 
himself  was  to  be  sent  to  Vera  Cruz,  of  Mexico,  at  the 
proper  time. 

It  was  rumored  that  there  was  another,  and  secret 
treaty,  by  which  Santa  Anna  agreed  to  have  the  inde- 
pendence of  Texas  acknowledged,  formally,  by  the  Mexi- 
can cabinet,  and  the  limits  of  the  Republic  of  Texas 
recognized  as  extending  to  the  Rio  Grande  River. 

Colonel  Rusk  had  been  appointed  as  temporary  com- 
mander-in-chief,  while  General  Houston  was  laid  up  be- 
cause of  his  wound,  and  Colonel  Mirabeau  Buonaparte 
Lamar,  the  cavalry  commander,  was  appointed  the  secre- 
tary of  war.  The  army  left  San  Jacinto  and  the  oak 
timber,  and  marched  westward  to  follow  on  the  heels  of 
General  Filisola  and  see  that  the  Mexican  troops  really 
retired  from  Texas. 

313 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

It  proved  to  be  a  troubled  summer.  Many  of  the 
volunteers  went  home,  on  discharge  or  on  furlough.  Leo 
and  Sion  and  Jim  dropped  out;  and  with  Dick,  Ernest 
finally  rode  into  Gonzales  again,  where  the  people  already 
were  rebuilding  their  houses. 

A  large  number  of  volunteers  from  the  United  States 
joined  the  army.  The  news  of  the  victory  of  San  Jacinto 
had  aroused  much  new  enthusiasm.  The  main  portion 
of  the  army  stayed  at  Victoria,  about  sixty  miles  south 
of  Gonzales,  on  the  Guadalupe.  The  army  kept  increas- 
ing, by  enlistments  and  by  reinforcements  from  the  United 
States;  for  it  was  reported  that  Mexico  was  to  attempt 
a  fresh  invasion,  from  Matamoros  on  the  east  coast.  This, 
however,  fell  through. 

Meanwhile,  General  Rusk  was  having  hard  work  to 
control  his  men.  He  seemed  not  to  have  the  influence  that 
Sam  Houston  had  had — although  he  was  a  brave  and 
popular  leader.  The  government  attempted  to  send  Santa 
Anna  to  Vera  Cruz,  and  some  United  States  volunteers  at 
Velasco  insisted  that  he  be  landed  again,  and  tried  for  his 
life.  President  Burnet  was  powerless,  for  fear  that  he 
would  lose  his  whole  army,  and  Santa  Anna  was  again 
confined  on  shore. 

But  General  Houston,  though  still  weak  from  his 
wound,  had  returned  slowly  to  San  Augustine  near 
Nacogdoches.  He  heard  of  the  threats  regarding  Santa 
Anna,  and  sent  a  message  to  General  Rusk,  protesting  the 
proposed  trial. 

He  said  that  to  deliver  Santa  Anna  over  for  trial  and 
execution  would  be  the  act  of  savages;  it  would  also 
endanger  the  lives  of  all  Americans  in  Mexico,  and  would 
blacken  Texas  in  the  eyes  of  the  United  States,  for  Texas 
would  stand  convicted  of  having  broken  the  terms  of  the 
treaty. 

There  was  then  much  talk  of  annexation  to  the  United 
States.  Delegates  had  been  sent  to  Washington,  to  ask 
the  United  States  to  intercede  between  Texas  and  Mexico 

314 


PRESIDENT  HOUSTON  RESIGNS  HIS  SWORD 

in  behalf  of  a  settlement  of  all  disputes.  The  delegates 
were  to  ask,  also,  that  Texas  be  admitted  into  the  Union. 

The  enraged  army  listened  to  the  appeal  of  their 
general,  and  instead  of  being  tried  for  his  life,  Santa 
Anna,  who  had  been  dreadfully  frightened  again,  was 
removed  inland  to  Columbia,  the  new  capital,  down  on 
the  lower  Brazos. 

However,  President  Burnet  was  so  disliked  by  the 
army,  because  of  the  failure  to  pay  them,  and  because  of 
his  endeavor  to  uphold  the  treaty  and  release  Santa  Anna, 
that  he  was  directed  by  petition  to  call  an  election  for 
permanent  president  of  the  Republic  of  Texas.  There- 
fore he  set  the  date  of  September  I. 

All  these  matters  came  to  the  ears  of  Dick  and  Ernest, 
who  were  at  home  in  Gonzales,  cultivating  their  corn. 
Ernest  had  planted  his  kernel  of  "  San  Jacinto  "  corn,  and 
it  had  sprouted.  He  spent  more  time  on  this  than  he  did 
on  the  whole  forty  acres ! 

It  did  seem  as  though  General  Houston  ought  to  be 
made  president ;  but  Stephen  Austin,  the  Father  of  Texas, 
was  being  mentioned.  He,  too,  certainly  deserved  honors. 
At  any  rate,  the  Texas  soldiers  were  strong  for  their 
general.  They  would  accept  no  other  leader;  not  they! 
While  the  general  was  still  invalided,  the  Texas  govern- 
ment decided  that  by  his  absence  he  had  forfeited  his  com- 
mand, and  Colonel  Mirabeau  Lamar,  the  brilliant  cavalry- 
man, now  secretary  of  war,  was  appointed  new  com- 
mander-in-chief.  When  he  arrived  at  the  army  head- 
quarters, to  assume  the  command,  the  army  protested. 

At  the  parade  there  were  a  few  cries  of  "  Lamar !  " 
and  "  Rusk!  "  (who  wished  to  retire),  and  a  thunderous 
shout  of  "  Houston !  Sam  Houston !  "  So  the  matter  was 
put  to  vote.  It  resulted:  Sam  Houston,  over  1500; 
Mirabeau  Lamar,  only  179!  There  could  be  no  mistake 
as  to  how  the  soldiers  felt. 

For  the  election  of  president  of  the  Republic  of  Texas 
two  candidates  entered,  at  first :  dear  Stephen  Austin,  and 

315 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

ex-Governor  Henry  Smith  of  the  dispute  with  the  council 
in  the  preceding  winter.  Word  came  that  General 
Houston  declined  to  run;  but  great  mass-meetings  at 
Nacogdoches,  and  San  Augustine,  and  Columbia,  and  other 
towns,  insisted  that  he  run. 

He  received  4374  votes;  Henry  Smith,  745;  and 
Stephen  Austin,  587.  Colonel  Lamar,  now  a  general,  was 
elected  vice-president.  The  Texas  people  also  voted 
almost  unanimously  for  annexation  to  the  United  States. 
The  United  States  congress  had  decided  to  recognize 
Texan  independence.  And  things  looked  bright. 

When  he  heard  the  news,  Dick  Carroll  swung  his  hat. 

"  I  was  sure  of  it !  "  he  cried,  to  Ernest.  "  Four  years 
ago  didn't  Sam  Houston  say,  on  setting  out  for  Texas: 
'  I  shall  yet  be  president  of  a  great  republic '  ?  And  he 
said,  too : '  I  shall  bring  that  nation  to  the  United  States  ' ! 
That  will  come.  He's  trying  for  it — he  and  Andy 
Jackson;  and  'cording  to  the  votes,  the  people  are  with 
him.  We'll  go  down  to  Columbia  and  see  him  inaugur- 
ated, if  we  have  to  walk !  " 

President  Burnet  and  Vice-president  Lorenzo  de 
Zavala  decided  to  resign.  Therefore  the  inauguration  was 
unexpectedly  set  for  an  early  date — October  22,  a  year 
from  that  October  of  1835  when  the  first  victory  of  the  war 
was  won,  under  Jim  Bowie  and  Colonel  Fannin,  at  Con- 
cepcion  on  the  way  to  Bejar.  Poor  Bowie  and  Fannin 
were  gone,  and  so  was  many  another  brave  Texan  soldier ; 
but  Texas  was  free  and  Sam  Houston  was  president. 

The  Texas  Congress  was  in  session  at  Columbia, 
An  enormous  crowd  hastily  gathered  for  the  inauguration. 
All  the  notables  were  there:  Stephen  Austin,  and  Ex- 
Governor  Smith,  and  Dr.  Branch  T.  Archer,  and  the  two 
Whartons,  and  Captain  Moseley  Baker,  and  Colonel 
Sidney  Sherman,  and  Henry  Karnes,  and  Deaf  Smith — in 
fact,  every  San  Jacinto  soldier,  especially,  who  could  pos- 
sibly get  there.  Yes,  Jim,  and  Sion,  and  Leo,  to  form 
with  Ernest  a  squad  of  cheering,  happy  veterans. 

316 


PRESIDENT  HOUSTON  RESIGNS  HIS  SWORD 

"  Have  you  seen  the  general,  yet  ?  "  demanded  Sion. 

"  No.     Where  is  he  ?  "  answered  Ernest. 

"  He's  been  'round  here  a  couple  of  weeks  and  more. 
About  the  first  thing  he  did  was  to  drop  down  and  call 
on  Santa  Anna,  at  the  Phelps  ranch,  below.  They  say 
Santa  Anna  simply  fell  on  his  neck  and  bawled ;  and  the 
general  patted  him  on  the  back  and  said : '  There,  there ! ' 
and  promised  to  do  what  he  could  for  him/' 

"  I  don't  know,"  spoke  Jim,  thoughtfully,  "  but  seems 
to  me  we  might  as  well  let  Santa  Anna  go.  We've  held 
him  prisoner  all  these  months,  and  part  of  the  time  he's 
been  in  irons  and  afraid  of  assassination  besides." 

"  Well,  Mexico  kept  Stephen  Austin  shut  up  for  near 
two  years,"  retorted  Sion.  "  About  killed  him,  too." 

"  That  ought  not  to  be  the  American  and  Texas  way, 
though,"  voiced  Leo,  agreeing  with  Jim.  "  Nobody  hates 
Santa  Anna  worse  than  I  do;  but  we  made  a  treaty, 
promising  to  release  him,  and  we've  never  done  it.  The 
general  says  that  after  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto  we  started 
in  to  be  merciful ;  and  now  it's  got  down  to  the  question 
of  whether  we'll  be  just.  Santa  Anna's  nothing  to  us; 
he's  only  one  man ;  the  United  States  is  siding  with  us 
and  we  can  take  care  of  ourselves.  President  Andy 
Jackson  himself  is  watching,  and  he  and  Sam  Houston 
stand  right  together  on  what  is  what.  Didn't  Jackson 
write  to  Santa  Anna,  telling  him  to  depend  on  Houston 
to  see  him  through  safely  according  to  the  treaty,  and 
saying : '  Let  those  who  clamor  for  blood,  clamor  on.  The 
world  will  take  care  of  Houston's  fame ! ' : 

"  That  Santa  Anna's  a  murderer,  just  the  same," 
argued  Sion,  the  stubborn.  "  He  murdered  our  men  at  the 
Alamo  and  at  Goliad.  And  his  word's  no  good.  The 
Mexican  government  claims  that  whatever  he  signs  as  a 
prisoner  doesn't  count." 

"  Stephen  Austin  and  General  Jackson  and  Sam 
Houston  say  he  ought  to  be  released,  though.  Texas 
promised  that,"  insisted  Leo. 

317 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

"  All  right,  release  him,  then,"  consented  Sion.  "  I 
think  he  ought  to  be  taken  over  to  Gbliad  and  killed  on  the 
spot  where  Fannin's  men  were  killed;  but  let  him  go. 
He  won't  amount  to  much  in  Mexico,  anyway,  and  he'll 
stir  up  trouble  enough  there  to  keep  'em  all  busy  at  home." 

"  How's  the  general  looking?  "  invited  Ernest,  chang- 
ing the  subject. 

"  Powerful  thin  and  peaked,"  responded  Leo.  "  I 
reckon  he  near  died.  They  took  twenty  pieces  of  bone 
out  of  his  ankle,  down  at  New  Orleans,  before  they  could 
start  the  wound  to  heating." 

General  Houston  was  sworn  into  office  at  four  o'clock 
that  afternoon  of  October  22,  and  immediately  delivered 
his  inauguration  address.  The  senators  and  representa- 
tives of  the  Republic  of  Texas  sat  before  him.  On  the 
platform  were  the  cabinet  officers  and  the  Speaker  of  the 
House,  and  several  distinguished  guests.  The  crowd  of 
other  citizens  and  soldiers  reached  into  the  street. 

When  he  arose  and  advanced  with  a  slight  limp,  a 
rousing  round  of  cheers  and  yells  and  hand-clapping  hailed 
him.  He  wore  a  suit  of  black  broadcloth,  with  his  sword 
belted  about  his  waist.  He  was  indeed  thin,  his  face  was 
seamed  by  suffering,  but  his  great  blue  eyes  flashed,  and 
his  voice  pealed  strong  and  vibrant  as  of  yore. 

The  address  was  rendered  without  notes,  for  he  had 
been  given  only  a  few  hours'  notice  of  when  it  would  be 
expected.  Meantime  he  had  been  kept  busy  greeting 
friends  and  comrades.  Nevertheless,  a  wonderful  address 
it  was.  How  the  words  rang  through  the  hall !  He  spoke 
of  the  position  now  occupied  by  Texas  before  the  eyes 
of  the  world ;  of  the  fight  for  liberty,  and  of  the  necessity 
of  being  still  vigilant  against  Mexico.  He  said  that  the 
Indians  should  be  treated  justly,  and  their  friendship 
gained.  And  he  thanked  the  people  of  the  United  States 
for  the  aid  they  had  sent,  in  men  and  money  and  guns, 
and  hoped  that  Texas  would  soon  be  welcomed  into  the 
Union  of  American  freemen. 

318 


PRESIDENT  HOUSTON  RESIGNS  HIS  SWORD 

A  thousand  considerations  press  upon  me ;  each  claims 
my  attention  [he  said].  But  the  shortness  of  the  notice 
of  this  emergency  [by  which  he  meant  his  address]  will 
not  enable  me  to  do  justice  to  those  subjects,  and  will 
necessarily  induce  their  postponement  for  the  present. 

Here  the  general  hesitated. 

"  Pshaw !  He's  taking  off  his  sword !  "  whispered 
Sion.  And  so  he  was.  He  was  fumbling  at  the  buckle  of 
the  belt,  in  front,  until  he  had  unclasped  it. 

It  now,  sir  [he  continued  to  the  Speaker  of  the 
House],  becomes  my  painful  duty  to  make  a  presentation 
of  this  sword — this  emblem  of  my  past  office. 

The  general  choked.  His  voice  failed.  He  held  the 
scabbard  in  one  hand  and  drew  the  sword  from  it,  with  the 
other.  He  gazed  upon  the  blade,  and  his  eyes  filled. 
Throughout  the  hall  sounded  a  deep  si^h  of  suspense  and 
sympathy.  Suddenly  the  general  slipped  the  sword  back 
into  the  scabbard,  and  with  both  hands  extended  the  hilt 
to  the  Speaker. 

Here,  sir.  I  have  worn  it  with  some  humble  preten- 
sions in  defense  of  my  country — and  should  the  danger 
of  my  country  again  call  for  my  services,  I  expect  to 
resume  it,  and  respond  to  that  call,  if  needful,  with  my 
blood  and  my  life. 

He  turned  away  and  limped  to  his  seat.  The  air  rocked 
with  the  shouts  for  President  Sam  Houston,  the  Hero  of 
San  Jacinto.  The  four  boys  looked  upon  one  another 
with  glistening  eyes. 

"  Jiminy !     Wasn't  that  great !  "  stammered  Ernest. 

The  others  nodded.  They  were  too  full  for  utterance. 
****** 

Thus  Sam  Houston  was  installed,  by  the  wish  of  his 
people,  to  guide  Texas  through  its  first  years  of  inde- 
pendence. He  at  once  appointed  Stephen  Austin  his 
Secretary  of  State,  and  Henry  Smith  his  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury.  Then,  against  the  wish  of  the  Senate,  he 
released  Santa  Anna  and  sent  him  to  confer  with  President 

319 


WITH  SAM  HOUSTON  IN  TEXAS 

Jackson  of  the  United  States  regarding  methods  by  which 
Mexico  could  be  induced  to  recognize  the  Texas  Republic. 
From  Washington  Santa  Anna  went  home  to  Mexico,  to 
scheme  again — but  not  for  Texas.  His  scheming  was  for 
himself. 

This  fall  died  Lorenzo  de  Zavala  the  Mexican,  loyal 
Texas  patriot.  This  winter  died  Stephen  Austin.  Thus 
was  President  Houston  deprived  of  two  good  councillors. 
On  Buffalo  Bayou  and  the  prairie  battle-field  of  San 
Jacinto  rose  the  new  town  of  Houston,  and  thither  the 
capital  of  Texas  was  removed.  Thither,  also,  removed 
Sam  Houston.  f^p 

He  served  Texas  three'  times  as  president,  and  again 
as  Senator  to  Washington ;  and  every  hour  of  his  Texas 
life  he  served  as  guide  and  adviser,  his  face  always  set 
firmly  for  a  future  and  not  merely  for  the  present. 
Whether  the  people  liked  what  he  did,  he  cared  not,  as  long 
as  he  thought  that  he  was  right. 

Each  time,  under  Houston  rule,  the  Republic  of  Texas 
prospered ;  but  until  formally  annexed  by  the  United  States 
in  1845  it  na-d  a  hard  road  to  travel.  Mexico  constantly 
threatened  it ;  and  the  two  attempts  that  it  made  to  invade 
Mexico  resulted  in  horrid  failures.  Jim  Hill's  youngest 
brother,  John,  enlisted  in  one  of  these,  and  was  captured. 

As  for  Ernest,  he  was  granted  land  as  a  soldier  of 
San  Jacinto,  and  the  day  came  at  last  when  he  could  send 
for  his  mother.  He  built  her  a  house  with  a  court,  too, 
like  the  court  into  which  he  and  Jim  had  peeped,  from  the 
roof  of  the  de  la  Garza  house  in  Be  jar.  Here  she  grandly 
sat,  among  the  flowers — and  occasionally  fed  sugar,  as  a 
special  treat,  to  lazy  Duke,  the  graying  old  war-horse, 
while  he  and  Ernest,  and  Jim  and  Leo  and  Sion,  and  Dick, 
on  their  visits,  exchanged  stories  of  the  stirring  days  of 
'35  and  '36;  of  the  heroic  Travis,  Fannin,  Jim  Bowie, 
Bonham,  Captain  Dickinson,  and  all ;  and  of  "  the  general  " 
— always  their  general — patient,  energetic,  far-seeing 
General  Sam  Houston. 


OVERDUE. 

"SHU  t943 


982S25 


H8S3 


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